MOTORISTS' INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 12

MOTORISTS' INTERESTS.

STREET TRAFFIC CONTROL.

OBJECT OF THE SAFETY ZONES.

DISCUSSION BY ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association was held last evening, the vice-president, Mr. J. A. Warnock, presiding over a good attendance.

In moving the adoption of the annual report, a resume of which appeared in the j He&aid on July 9, the chairman said [ the association was anxiously awaiting a I copy of the Motor Vehicles Bill, now before Cabinet. It would undoubtedly contain provisions of great interest and importance to members of the association, and these would be very carefully oaimdered. It was good to know the Main Highways Board was now functioning, and there seemed to be reasonable ground for hope that some of the present members of the association would yet be able to motor through to Wellington in comfort. The council of the association had in hand the preparation of a road map of the Auckland district which would be of great benefit to motorists not familiar with the country i roads. During the year, the usual runs 1 had been given to orphans, to inmates of the Costley Home, and other benevolent institutions. The council hoped to publish a quarterly report of the association's activities. The question of increasing the membership was also mentioned, the : chairman stating that it was not at all in keeping with the dignity of the city that the association should boast only 1000 city members. The need for a more effective system of control of street traffic was advocated by Mr. J. M. Bradney, who suggested that the association should consider sending a deputation to the City Council. Special attention was drawn to the dangerous congestion of traffic at the top of Symonds Street. The question of safety zones was touched upon by another speaker, who stated that there were no safety zones in the busy streets of Sydney, save where the roads were very wide. In Melbourne, motorists were not allowed to go through the safety zones as they were in Auckland, although this permitted the traffic to move on much more expeditiously. It was further suggested that it would assist matters greatly if all motorists could be supplied with booklets of the city bylaws, and & campaign of instruction instituted throughout New Zealand through the medium of the press. The matter of the width of motor-buses was also mentioned by the speaker. The chairman stated that, as a member of th<| committee which had helped to frame the by-laws, he knew they were v«y comprehensive. It was not the want of by-laws to govern tho traffic that led to confusion, but the lack of administration. It had been found, in large cities elsewhere, that wheel traffic increased in the ratio of four to one to the increase of population. In a thoroughfare like Queen Street, probably about 75 per cent, of the traffic was from the outer districts, and the idea of the safety zones was to let this traffic get out of the city as quickly as possible. With regard to the width of motor-buses, the regulations stipulated that vehicles should be not more than 7ft. 6in. wide. There were on© or two motor-buses now running in Queen Street which were about 9ft. in width, but the council had been reluctant to take action with regard to the matter because of the outcry of "victimisation" which would inevitably arise. "They will have to sitick on the road a bit longer," remarked Mr. Warnock, "and then we will bring them to book."

An address by Mr. M. H. Wynyard on the working of the Main Highways Board completed the business' of the meeting. _ Mr. J. A. Warnock was elected president, and Messrs. M. H. Wynvard. G. Henning and J. A. Gillett vice-presidents.

The following were elected to the committee:—Messrs. C. L. Macintosh, H. C. Jones, H. Butcher. F. G. Farrell, B. E. Champtaloup, G. M. White, T. G. Julian, A. Grayson, R. B. Spinks, J. B. King.