Non-members Not to Get Service

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 175, 27 July 1935, Page 4

Non-members Not to Get Service

AUTOMOBILE aSSOCIAT LON EXPLAINS ITS ATTITUDE

Believing that the beueiits it gives are such that all motorists in the district should be members, the Automobile Association (Manawatu) does not intend to give service to non-members. In making an announcement to 1 hut olfect at a meeting of the committee last evening, the chairman (Mr. Is. U. Mackie) said the question had been before various associations and they had decided not to give service to nonmembers. The position had been acute lately owing to the Rood damage to roads, and the inquiries coming to the association’s cilice had been j-hciiom-onal. He had arranged with the secretary to have a notice put m the office to the effect that information would not be given to non members. One or two members had taken umbrage at that attitude, because they thought information should be given to all. However, lie thought information which cost money to obtain and was given to members as part of their privileges, should not be given to others, finite apart from the question of cost of securing information, the work of the association was widely enough known to make the advantages of membership obvious. A number of members of the public seemed hurt that information was refused to them when they were not prepared to join up as members. In expressing agreement with the attitude adopted, Mr. H. E, Edmonds said that, in view of the advantages the association offered, it was hard to understand motorists not joining up.

The chairman mentioned that some of the association’s activities, such as the preparation of maps and sign-post-ing, had cost hundreds of pounds. He did not want the public to think that the association was taking an unfair attitude, and he believed that his explanation would clear the air.