MOTOR INTERESTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 June 1939, Page 8

MOTOR INTERESTS

ANNUAL MEETING HELD AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION ENDS SUCCESSFUL YEAR LARGE INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP The annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Nelson) in the Ritz last night was attended by 31 members. The president. Dr. S. A. Gibbs, who is absent in the North Island, was unable to be present. Mr C. M. Rout was elected to the chair. He said that the executive must take it as a compliment that more members did not attend the annual meeting; they were evidently satisfied with the executive's work. Referring to business arising from the minutes, the chairman said that the executive had been very active in connection with the Maruia Springs telephone line, but had not received satisfaction. but the Department was moving in the matter and taking the line from Christchurch over the Lewis Pass to Reefton. They had promised to reconstruct the line from Maruia to Blackndder's and the hostel. He thought that before the next annual meeting the ; elephone would be there. As regards number plates, said the chairman, he thought Nelson could claim credit for motorists being allowed to put plates on one day earlier. They should press for two or three days extra before the end of the year. ANNUAL REPORT The annual report stated, inter alia: The membership of the Association continues to grow in a gratifying manner and the year ended 31st March has seen by far the greatest increase ever experienced, but of course it marks the first year in which we have had a Patrol Officer on the road for the full twelve months. No fewer than 643 new members were secured during the period, making 1101 new members in two years. There have been numerous transfers and deaths, but very few resignations and. allowing for all these, the membership roll at 31st March stood at 1713. (At the April and May meetings a further 150 were elected, these belonging of course to the current year, and bringing the -total to 1863, so that the hope expressed last year that we would reach 2000 in two years should be easily realised). While Nelson and Marlborough, we believe, have shown the highest ratio of increase over the 12 or 18 months, all A.A. memberships are growing fast and the great work of the associations is being widely recognised. PATROL WORK During the year the patrol car has covered 15,007 miles on the association’s business; 264' signs have been erected all over the district, parking and other assistance given at 8 shows, races, conferences, etc., over 50 cars

shipped for members of all associations, assistance to motorists in difficulties rendered on 80 occasions, information and direction given to innumerable visiting motorists at the camps and on the roads.

SIGNPOSTING Very considerable progress has been made in the matter of the erection of new signs all over the district and the general replacement and repainting of the old signs and now it can be claimed that while there is still plenty to be done, the district is well signed from Farewell Spit to Maruia and the Rai. Before next touring season it is expected that all old signs will have been renewed and many additional ones erected on the less frequented roads. This work, where done on highways, carries a Highways Board subsidy, but the subsidy on the heavy expenditure during the past year could not be brought into the present accounts. GET YOU HOME SERVICE With the greatly increasing number of members, naturally this service is being availed of to a greater degree and during the year 158 members called upon the service (making 472 to date). All associations now reciprocate in the matter of service within their own districts and the total cost to us for the year was £IOB 17s 3d. FINANCIAL Naturally with the great increase in rhembership and greater service to members, the expenditure has grown

considerably but the whole foundation of the A.A. Organisation of course is service to members. The payments for the year exceeded the receipts by £SB 3s 3d as against £740 last year when, of course there was heavy capital expenditure. The accounts however can take no account of the substantial subsidy which will be received from the Main Highways Board

on the year's signposting, which will probably be at last £2OO. The position is therefore thoroughly satisfactory and the assets show an excess over liabilities of £864 9s 9d. Of this excess £SOO is in cash on deposit so that the Association is always in a position to meet an emergency. Actually, since the close of the year sufficient subscriptions have been paid to easily liquidate the overdraft and place a sbslantial sum in current account. The chairman moved the adoption of the report He stressed the signposting work that had been done and the increase in membership. There would be over 2000 members shortly. As the Association gren so could its scope of usefulness enlarge also. Mr W. E. Wilkes seconded the motion. which was carried. The election of officers resulted : Patron : Mr C. R Fell. President: Dr. S. A. Gibbs Vice-presidents: Messrs W. E. Wilkes. C. M. Rout. G. Cunningham. E A. Bone. J. A. Harley. W. Birdsall. Dr. W. D. S. Johnston and Dr. J. R. Closs. Commitee: Messrs A. Bensemann. E. Fleming. W. R. Grace. C. A. Hunter. J. G. Ingram. A. Gould. F. Jarrett. N. Kerr. J. R. Leggo. W. R. Marlyn. L. N. Montgomery. H .1 Savage. F. C. Smallbone, F. V. Powell. B. Bishop. I. M Deighton. Delegate to S.I.M.U. : Mr H. C. Harley (Christchurch) Hon auditor: Mr C. A Hunter. The chairman paid a tribute to the president and said he knew Dr. Gibbs was intensely interested and would give of his best to the Association. Mr Harley referred to the valuable work done by Mr Rout, who had acted as chairman during the president’s absence. The president, Messrs Rout. Grace and the secretary (Mr E. R. Neale) were elected delegates to the half-year-ly meeting of the South Island Motor

Union at Christchurch on 26th June. A motion by Mr Harley that the principle of small committees be approved was carried. The appointment of sub-committees was left over till the return of the president. Mr Ingram was extended best wishes for a successful trip to the Old Country. Mr Stedman suggested that meetings be held at Murchison. Molueka and Takaka when a few of the executive could meet members in those centres and explain association affairs and hear suggestions of country members. 1948 MEMBERS Prior to the annual meeting a committee meeting was held, at which the following 85 new members were elected, bringing the total to 1948: Mr F. Archer (Upper Moulerci. Miss E. Atkinson. Mrs M. Ashton. Mrs E. Adams (Takaka), Messrs J. E. Boyce, • Molueka). K. R. Bird (Whangamoa*. J. N. Bensemann. T. Bunster, A. A. Brown (Upper Moutere). Bourne and Scarlett. Miss V. Brenmcr. Messrs J. P. Boyer (Cobb River). R. E. Bartlett

(Richmond). N. A. Burt (Howard). J. S. Bartlett (Tasman). Mrs M. Cole (Brightwater), Messrs C. W. Clifford. A. Da Vanzo (Upper Moutere). J. Don. A. Drummond (Owen River). I. M. Deighton, V. Evles (Takaka). V. Ewers (Upper Moutere), S. Fayen (Sandy Bay). K. G. Frater (Umukuri), J. A. Grant (Rockville). L. Hill (Takaka*, L. J. Haywood (Tasman), H. Hesiop, J.‘F.

Heath (Motueka). G. F. Hunter (Wakefield), A. C. Hunte (Wakefield). F. B. I-lufton (Motueka). C. K. Hawken (Motueka). C. G. Inwood (Motueka). J R. Jones. Miss A. F. Johnson. Messrs P. V. Langford (Takaka i, E. Lowe (Brightwater). J. M. Lowe (Tasman). R J. Makgill (Collingwood», C. Mitchell. S. M. Manson (Collingwood *, R. J. Marchbanks (Takaka). Mrs B. Manson (Takaka). Rev. Father Jeremiah McGrath (Takaka). Messrs R. J. McKay (Mangarakau). P. M. McConchie, Mrs M. Mac Shane. Miss Vera G. McLean

(Motueka*. Messrs W. J. Mclntosh (Richmond). R. H. Nixon (Richmond). R. Nixon (Murchison). Mrs O. Peterson (Takaka). Miss H. J. Petterson, Messrs J. Pcrring (Upper Moutere), F. C. Page (Brightwater). E. L. Quinnev ( Hiwipango). J. Roberts (Motueka), Miss F. O. Riley (Collingwood). Messrs J. N. Robinson (Longford). S. O. Stent. G. Sargison (Mangarakau), Mrs E. Sutherland (Tapawera), W. O. Shain. P. N. Smith (Brightwater), R. D. Sutherland, J. Sharp* C. J. Stuart (CableBay). R. Sherwood. Rev. Father C. H Seymour, B. C. Spiers (Murchison), E. H. Stallard (Murchison), G. Tasker

(Lower Moutere). W. B. Thomss (Motueka *.A. P. Turkey (Belgrovc), R. C. Withers (Murchison), D. Whilford (Owen River). J. R. Williams, C. W. Wells (Tarakohe). E. Webb (Onekaka), G. W. Wilkes (Richmond), R. Win (Wakefield). L. Ward. E. S. Wratt (Motueka), H. C. Wilson.

It was decided to investigate the mat ter of improving both ends of Harley’: road.

A letter was received complaining of cprtain dangerous corners in the city. It was resolved to find out the power of local bodies and to go into the question of improving a number of dangerous corners about the city.

The mileage pegs on the Takaka Hill are to be replaced.