MOTOR TRADE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 18 September 1929, Page 7

MOTOR TRADE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, 17th September. At the Motor Trade Conference the following officers were elected: —President, Mr C. V. Clift (Palmerston North); 'secretary, Mr J. F. Cousins (Wellington); auditor, Mr R. A. Fuller (Palmerston North); councillors, Messrs F. Reynolds (Whangarei), F. B. Cadman (Auckland), F. J. Farrell (Hamilton), C. S. Wallace (Thames Valley), M. Jones (Te Kuiti); E. J. Ferguson (North Taranaki), F. V. Lysons (South Taranaki), H. Holmes (Gisborne), H. Fox (Wairoa), R. Bell (Napier), V. G. Clift (Manawatu), E. W. Mereweather (Wanganui), G. Hughen (Wairarapa), F. C. Milnes (Horowhenua), H. E. Avery (Wellington), G. W. French (Christchurch), C. W. Wood (Timaru), F. Smallbone (Ashburton), H. J, Jenkins (Oamaru), J. N. Armour (Southland); tiro representatives. North Island, Mr G. W. Spragg (Auckland); South Island, Mr A. Wimpenny (Dunedin); petrol representatives, Messrs A. Pollard (Auckland) and J. Watson (Dunedin). TECHNICAL TRAINING SCHEME PALMERSTON N., This Day. The Motor Trade Conference reported that the benevolent fund instituted in 1925 had made little progress until the present year. The credit balance of £5 last year had increased to £9B. At the present rate of income it would be some years before it would be possible to operate on the fund unless the income was substantially added .to.. The technical training scheme was stated to have made substantial progress during the year. The large amount of time and money spent was now beginning to give satisfactory results. Classes were now operating at Auckland, New Plymouth, and Invercargill with a prospect of one commencing at Wanganui, In all 350 boys in the motor trade were being trained each year, and a number turned out capable of taking up important positions. . The Motor Trade Committee hopes that in the next two years the number will be doubled. The time had arrived when it was necessary to provide a regular source of income, £2OO per annum being required.

It was decided that every member of the trade, with the exception of benzine and tyre sellers, be asked to contribute 10s per member per annum towards a fund for training mechanics, the contribution to be subsidised by the Government,

Mr G. M. Tench (Christchurch) and •Mr O. M. Ferguson. (Taranaki) were appointed vice-presidents., The Association resolved that the Municipal Association be urged to take eteps to promote a maximum degree- of uniformity in regulations for parking cars, street notices, signs, etc., to eliminate embarrassments aha penalties on visiting motorists; and that the Government be urged to proceed at the earliest possible moment with the setting up of a Royal Commission to discuss the whole of the transport question as a vital national problem. In advancing the last resolution Mr Hope Gibbons said a Royal Commission would bring the most satisfactory results.

WITHDRAWAL OF HIGHWAYS SUBSIDY

PALMERSTON N., This Day. The Motor Trade Conference carried a remit from the To Kuiti branch that an emphatic protest be forwarded to the Government against its action in withdrawing the £200,000 subsidy from the Highways Board Fund, as it is considered a direct breach of faith with motorists inasmuch as it will interfere with the Highways Board giving expeditions effect to its programme, and also directly' opposed to the original promises made when imposing the petrol tax. It was decided to telegraph the remit to a meeting of delegates from local bodies and others interested in highway finance) to be held in Wellington to-morrow.