THE MOTOR WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR WORLD.

BY FOCUS.

JUL ATTrCMOBffiB TTTTCOir. '&& a meeting of the executive of tho Sow Zealand Automobile Union in WelJjjjgtfco on Tuesday last, a letter was reoerved frosn the Auckland Automobile Association. With regard to the proposed hotel nobemo far the benefit of motorists and enclosing a list of hotels adopted by ifcho commeercial travellera in the Auckland district. The Wellington Automobile Cltib ■wrote stating that they wore not in sympathy with the proposed scheme, as they consider that motorists- prefer to make their own hotel arrangements, thereby securing better attention. The Marlborough Association stated that they wero favourahlo to the scheme, and were making inquiries on the subject from locai hotelkeepera. Tho Wairarapa Automobile Association do not consider tbo idea at all good owing to tho frequent changes of management in the hotels. Tito South Island Union stated that they had found tho hotel schorne quite a success in tho South Ma-ad, and desired to get a similar scheme in the North Island in ordor to work in unison with them. It was decided to advise the South Island Union of tho various replies received to tho proposed schema

Tho Minister for Public Works advise*] that tho union's proposals as regards ■utilisation of revenue of tihe motor tyro tax was receiving serious consideration, and no doubt questions relative to tho sugcestiona would bo considered by tho conference to bo bcld to discuss the provisions of the suggested Highways Bill.

T':q Good Roads Association wrote roporting progress regarding tho Highways Bill. It wa 9 decided to writ*; to tho Good Itoads Association, also to the South Island Motor Union, for a report on their ideas to be put before tho Government at the forthcoming roads conference, and also to endeavour to arrange a meeting in Wellington shortly before tho date of the conference, which will take place tbi« month.

The Nelson Automobilo Association wrote stating that, it had decided to secedo from the New Zealand Automobile Union at tho end of the present financial year, as it intended to apply to the South Island Union for affiliation tto that body.. Tho resignation was accepted with regret, and the enormous amount of w-ork done by the New Zealand Automobilo Union., especially with regard to legislative matters was pointed-out.

Representations are to bo made by thei New Zealand Automobile Union to the* Minister for Externa] Affairs with a view to having the law extended to make it compulsory for cyclists to carry tail lights. This act-ion w;*g decided upon at the last meeting of the nniou as a result of a, recommendation from the Auckland Automobile Association. Tho Minister is to be acquainted with instances of accidents occurring through neglect oi the precaution.

Tho Wairarapa Association asked that tho union should niake an effort to ha.ve tho freight on motor-cara to th.o South Inland reduced. It was decided to vvriba to tho Union Steam Ship Company on this matter.

A USEFUL ACCESSORY. One of tho moat useful things to carry along in the car is a 25-foot length of one-half inch Manila rop<>. In tho first, place it is an admirable tow-rope, it can be wrapped around tho axle and spring after some of the spring leaves have been broken, to get home without breaking; tho rest of the leaves. It can be cut in two and wrapped around to givo tiaction ki some mud-holes where it would be impossible to fasten chains. Tho rope can be used even a3 a tyro when the lasit spare has blown out, and will save the rim on the journey home.

OLD-TIME AUTOMOBILES. One hundred years ago, or, more exactly, on December. 8, 1821, the Journal des Debate published the following item: " There is now much talk in Milan of an invention for which the author, a certain Cataneo, has just got a license from the Emperor of Austria. Several times they have tried in England and France tp maio a carriage move without horses, but every time it was observed that the mechanism gave rise to insuperable difficulties. Mr. Cataneo not only dispenses ■with the tjeam, but by moans of his mechanism one single horso keeps up and accelerates the movement to a point at •which he does easily the work of four horses.*

<" A DAY'S PLEASURE." A Sydney resident gives the following account of his Ea3ter misadventures :— " Left homo at 6 a.m. on Good Friday j blow-out at 6.45 a.m.; two punctures no fore 8 a.m.; walked two miles for iiiew tube, and completed first twenty miles oil my tour by noon; the family and I enjoyed- meal in real picnic style; petroll supply exhausted at 3 p.m.; waited an hour and cadged a quart from passing motorist; 5 p.m., arrived at village and persuaded garage man to sell me tin o:f petrol; total mileage since morning, 48; after refreshments, started for home; three punctures before 7 p.m.; electric light gave out and wandered off road, and wan hauled out of a water-drain at 10.30 p.m. : smashed differential at midnight; after a walk of ten miles, arrived home for early breakfast." He concludes by stating that next time he desires a. holiday he will travel on a solid-tyrcd push-bike, and leave tho family at home.

HONESTY IN TYEE SALES. As one of the first steps in its campaign to educate Ne\» York motorists to the advantage of purchasing their tyres and tubes from representative merchants the Greater New York Tyre Dealers' Associa' tion has distributed among its members it window display card carrying an imprint of tho association-emblem, tlie two-word explanation of the objects of the organisation, " Co-operation and Service," and tins slogan under which the affiliated dealers operate. It is believed the efforts of tho organisation to eiiminato many of the dishonest tyre dealers will be successful. The slogan of the organisation, " Pledged to do business on the square/' 1 is being'emphasised, not only on the window cards, but in all correspondence with tyre users. It is the intention of the- association to bring home to car owners by advertising the change that has taken placo in merchandising methods. According to the president of the association, car owners sbonld give more attention to the care of their tyres if they are tfo get fuJl return on their investment. ■ E

RIGHT OP WAY. Toot-toot! The motor came flying round; the comer, and the old gentleman in the road jumped hastily aside. But hill wifirstepped out of the way more ieisurclv, In tact, for a moment it appeared that 2 Tift TJOt goin " to 6to P ftside afc all- - do we have to get out of tho way for every road-ho K that comes along?" she protested grudgingly. J^'ly lll6^ oll3 thin So do,"- suggested the old man > o

ifouro right there. But when I hear a motor rushine towards me, I Wink of tho epitaph which runs— WT, i' es * e h - cd ? of William Jav Who d,ed maintaining his right of wav B wmig 5 ' &* d6ad if Wd beetl READERS' TROUBLES, |S«, have the

NOTES. The British impost duty on American cars is 35 per cent, Franco collects 45 per cent. A light-weight two-stroke motorcycle. j weighing 751b., is now being sold in England' at £61 10s. In France 80.000 men are employed in the motor industry, and 53,000 cars per annum are manufactured. The Wellington City Council is about to frame a by-law compelling all motorlorries to carry minors. H Watkins and N. Pederson, both of South Australia, motored from Adelaide to Broken Hill (525 miics) in 8 hours 53 minutes. Manufacturers of gasoline in England are planning to give each grade a distinctive colour, so that it can bo identified at a glance.

At motor races at Sale (Victoria), a speed of over 100 miles an liour was attained by a Minerva ear. shod with Dunlop tyres, and fitted with a 300 b.p. engine.

The Italian Government is determined to encourage its motor industry. It has prohibited tbo importation of cars, and compels manufacturers to export a certain proportion of their output.

In California, Oregon, and Washington there is one motor-car to every nine inhabitants. About one of every sixty in New South Wales owns a car.

The tax on a modium-sixed four-cylinder car in America is £1 ss. The owner of the same car in England would pay £17; in Spain, £5; France, £35; Italy, £100; and in New South Wales, £4.

A concrete road at Mosman, Sydney, cost; 13s 6d per square yard. This works out at about £3000 per Twenty* live years ago forty miles of railway was const-ructod in New South Wales for £4-500 per mile.

It is hoped that before long a larger quantity of motor spirit will bo made from shale. Americans long ago would have extracted from shale all tho motor spirit they required, bad petiol not been so cheap in that country.

Periodical demonstrations aro made in American cities of the difficulty motorists experience in avoiding collision with pedestrians who wander aimlessly about the streets. We need not go to America to become convinced that accidents are not always the fault of the motorists.

It has been reported that a plant capablo of producing 6000 gallons of motor spirit per day has been ordered, and should be in operation in Papua before the end of this year. The cost of production, it is said, will be much lower than was at first anticipated.

The cycle branch of tho Motor Traders" Association at its meeting on Tuesday night, passed a resolution protesting against tho Government's delay in calling the conference to discuss the Main Highways Bill. Tho time left is now so short that it is impossible for tho matter to be discussed effectively before the next session opeDs.

A conferenco to consider the Main Highways Bill has been convened by the Minister for Public Works, and will open at Wellington on June 7. The delegates will include representatives of the Counties Association, New Zealand Automobile Union, and the Good Roads Association. An endeavour will bo made to have the provisions of the Bill placed Oil a footing agreeable to all concerned.

MOTOa-CYCLINGr. Clipped to tbo seat pillar a 23-inch spiked rod makes a very handy auxiliary stand for solo mounts on soft ground. A very enjoyable smoke concert wa£ held last Saturday evening by the- Touring Club, over 30 members being present.

Gradual improvement is being made with projecting tram lines, but much remains to be done. Remuera Road is a glaring example.

100 m.p.h. on a 3£ h.p. motor-cycle is at last an established fact. Recently the 3£ Douglas " cleaned up" the field at Brooklands with 100.6 m.p.h. to its credit. »

The regulations governing the 200-mile side-car race, to be run on Juno 17 on Brooklands, will demand that skids be fitted as a precaution against accidents should a side-car shed its wheel.

R. N. Judd broke tho world's international two-way kilo, record in the 500 c.c. class on bis o.b.v. Norton on his first appearanco this season at Brooklands. The average sjxjed was 89.92 miles per hour.

Some sensation has been caused among motor-cyclists in Sweden because an important economy competition organised by a Swedish newspaper was won by a ten-venr-old belt-driven American motorcycle.

Tho ideal motor-cycle may bo summarised briefly as follow? :—l. Woiight as low as possible. 2. Foolproof starting. 3. Absolute reliability. 4. Cleanliness. (No special clothing required.) 5. Unpuncturable tyres.

We are paying a tyro tax but arc securing no benefits. Must we wait until close on the general election before tho present policv of stagnation is altered ? A promise has been made and motorists demand that that promise bo kept and immediate improvement of our roads begun.

A very well-known firm of motor-cycle manufacturers, whose name is a household word among specdmen, is contemplating the production of a real miniature motor-cycle, to weigh about 751b. and to soil in the neighbourhood of £30. It, is to bo fitted with a two-speed tjear box, and pedalling gear will bo optional.

In the overhead valve engine, tappet noise often becomes objectionable, due generally to lack of lubrication on llio overhead rockers. The small holes provided, soon (become blocked with dirt and (lust. By drilling out tho rocker standard and fitting a small greaser the moving parts can be lubricated ami! noise and wear greatly reduced.

At a recent meeting of tho Hereford City Council tiiere was a discussion as to the advisability of limiting speed in the city to ten miles an hour. The Mayor of Horeford wisely objected to tho imposition of an artificial speed limit, saying that his experience in tho Police Courts had shown him that it was best to deal with " road hogs 1 ' by prosecuting them for dangerous driving, his opinion being that any speed limit was an encouragement to drive at that speed irrespective of risk to others.

Paris firemen aro now mating use of motor-cycles and side-cars for "first aid in extinguishing tires. The machines have special two-passenger side-cars and provision for carrying hand extinguishers. At present these machines arc only being used by the central brigade, and have been adopted with the object of petting firemen on the scene of an outbreak before the main engine arrives. Probably tho men on the motor-cycle will not often be able to extinguish the fire with the band apparatus at their disposal, but the five or. ten minutes thev are expected to gain wi.l prove exceedingly valuable in preparing the ground for tho arrival of the mam torce.