Contacting Country Members

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 66, 28 May 1940, Page 3

Contacting Country Members

With the primary object of personally contacting country members, thus learning at first hand the requirements of the district, a tour of the North is being made by Auckland Automobile Association officials. Included in the party are Mr. F. G. Farrell (President A.A.), Major H. North (founder and vice-president of the Automobile Association in Ceylon) and Mr. R. E. Champtaloup (touring manager). Mesdames Farrell and North are accompanying their husbands. A meeting held at Kaitaia last Thursday evening drew a good attendance of local members and motorists and the general public, and films showing road construction and methods abroad were received with interest and enthusiasm. Services to be Maintained Full A.A. services would be maintained throughout the war, stated Mr. Farrell in appealing to local motorists for continued support during the war period. The Association was carrying out duties of a national nature and the whole of its organisation was keyed to the highest point of efficiency to be available to the Government in any emergency that might arise under war conditions. “And it is a wonderful organisation we could offer them,” Mr. Farrell said. Members joining up for active service would have their subscriptions paid by the Association for their term of service abroad and they would be permitted to nominate a dependent to whom the full services of the Association would be available in their stead. Members of the staff who joined the colours were having their positions kept open, their military pay supplemented up to their A.A. salary and their superannuation fund maintained. In thanking members for their loyal support, the speaker mentioned that there had been a net increase of 2000 in membership since the outbreak of w'ar. The total membership of the Auckland Association now exceeded 35,000. Damage to Signposts In outlining the services of the Association the speaker said that the majority of motorists were well aware of the good work done by the Association, but _he made a special appeal in regard to signposting. Wilful damage to direction and danger signs was unfortunately on the increase and he asked all those present to do their utmost to preserve signs, report damage to the A.A. and if they observed any instances of deliberate destruction immediately to report to the police. Major North spoke briefly, expressing his appreciation of the scenery in the Northland and saying that he was much impressed by the obvious capacity of the country to carry a much larger population than it now supports.

Road Safety for Children The Association’s Child Educational Safety Service was explained by Mr. Champtaloup, who said that all the Association’s uniformed patrols were especially instructed in the art of delivering safety talks to the youngsters, and in one year the Association had been responsible for giving Safety Instruction to more than 60,000 children. In connection with the safety work in the schools the Association has inaugurated a Schoolboy Patrol System which is designed to safeguard the younger children when crossing the road outside the school. The speaker said that this system had produced wonderful results, and it was most gratifying to report that not a single child has been involved in a motor accident outside a school at which the A.A. Schoolboy Patrols were operating. New Zealand A.A. Film Shown at Special Request At the special request of members the film of New Zealand which had been made by the A.A. was shown with the other films, Mr. Champtaloup’s commentary being the same as that delivered to audiences in many parts of the world during his recent tour to study roads abroad. Although to New Zealanders the film might seem a little jumbled, in that it jumped from views of one part of New Zealand to another, the scenic views recorded' were very fine and the showing was heartily appreciated. It was noted that in the comparatively small space of New Zealand there were all the element ; of the grandeur of scenery which had been so impressive in the scenes shown of European and Canadian mountain and countryside. Roads Abroad In introducing the Subject of his ravel films overseas, highway systems and traffic control, Mr. Champaloup paid a very high tribute to he Main Highways Board of New Zealand, its engineers and also local ody engineers. He said that New Zealand highways were superior to hose of any other country he had

Tour of Automobile Association Officers

visited with an equal population or equal density of vehicular traffic. A film showing the magnitude of the German military road system with its dual carriageways, cloverleaf intersections, by-passes and method of traffic control proved intensely interesting. Another film illustrated travel by the All Red Route in Canada with remarkably fine illustrations of the Canadian Pacific resorts and the Rockies. Camping life in California was also featured in colour. Pictures of Norway illustrated the difficult nature of the country on which the British forces were recently engaged and the very great advantage established by the Germans in occupying the main ports and air bases. British streets, highways and byways were screened in a striking manner, this film concluding with the reproduction of the 1939 Trooping of the Colours in London. Thanks to the visitors were heartily carried by acclamation before the meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Mr. John M. Dawson presided over the meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Town Board, Mr. L. Peace. School Children Entertained A special screening of A.A. films was presented to the school children of Kaitaia on Thursday afternoon, when various features in connection with Road Safety were vividly illustrated by the A.A. officials. Included in the programme was a film of the holiday resorts of the Auckland Province in natural colour, this being of an educational nature as it included many of the items of which the children learn in their school geography. Travel pictures of Europe including German military roads, pictures of Berlin, Paris and Luxemburg were an interesting side-light.