Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19031, 30 May 1925, Page 10 (Supplement)

BY FOCUS.

NOTES. Keep your springs well, greased and lubricated. It will prolong the life of the working parts oil your car. A dangerous corner at Whit ford is being investigated by the Auckland Automobile Association. The total number of proposals for construction work received by the Main Highways Board to date is 213. During the first, nine months of 1924, 27 futilities resulted iu America because of too strong lights on vehicles, and 14 owing to confusion iu dimming. The rule of the road in Rome is in future to keep to the right. Previous attempts to enforce this have failed, butspecial guards mounted on bicycles are on this occasion to be used. Speaking at a Safety First banquet, the Home Secretary, Sir William . JoynsonHicks, remarked that there were many who would like to see the speed limit removed, but first of all motorists must get the confidence of the public by following out the principles of Safety First. The Main Highways Board's laboratory for the testing of stones, rocks, etc., has been completed, and will be available as soon as the necessary power can be obtained from the Wellington City Corporat ion. Neat transfers, showing the letters A. A.A. in red, white and blue, are being ordered by the Auckland Automobile Association for supplying to members on tour. They can be adhered to the windscreen of a car, and are intended to serve the purpose, formerly played by the old number plates, of indicating the home town of the motorist on tour. About 20 members of the Auckland Automobile Association, who are oil the way to England, are taking advantage of the reciprocal agreement recently completed between the Auckland association and the Automobile Club of England. This enables them to join the club under favourable terms and enjoy all advantages during the period of their stay in the Old Country. HIGHWAYS BOARD AND ROADS. SOUTHERN TOUR PROPOSED. The South Island Motor Union recently wrote to ill'. M. H. Wynyard, motorists representative cm the Main Highways Board, suggesting that he should make a tour of the South Island with a Mew to acquainting himself with motorists requirements in respect of roads. Mr. Wynyard has.replied as follows: — I " I am interested in what you say and may mention that members of the board have given contempt it'on ta a tcur « -f the South Island. It will not be possible for me. to go further south, but I will ascertain at the board meeting this week when the South Island tour can be arranged, and I will let you know what has been settled. I recognise the need for familiarising oneself with the reading conditions in all parts of the Dominion. " As to the interests of motorists generally, you may be assured that they are by no means neglected. Regarding the conditions of individual roads, the board is taking up the question of the proper maintenance with those local bodies, both in the North and South Islands, who are not carrying it out in a satisfactory manner. It- is not possible, of course, to know, unless complaints are made, of all such cases, and I would suggest that your union, or any motor association, should advise the board of any instances where you consider that tho roads are being neglected. In such case the board will obtain a report from its local representatives, and if the circumstances justify the complaint,' action would be taken in the direction of requiring more adequate maintenance." ROAD LIGHTHOUSES. AN AUSTRALIAN INNOVATION. Under the new Main Roads Act of New South Wales the board is empowered to make regulations enabling councils to permit " road lighthouses " to be erected on main roads, as a warning to motorists, in exchange for advertising concessions. These structures are surmounted by a circular disc, in the centre of which is a light, distinguishable from railway signals or other lights that might be met on the road, and surrounded by the words, in illuminated letters, " Caution," "Curve," or whatever warning is necessary at that particular spot. On the structures are advertisements, which enable the light to bo erected and maintained either at no cost to the council or at a nominal cost. These lighthouses are few in number at present in the State. Seven or eight have been installed in the Blue Mountains. Upon the success of these warnings, the usefulness of which has been amply demonstrated in this great mountain stretch, where the traffic is often heavy, and where the mists often make an almost impenetrable curtain, largely depends their use in some of tiie other States, notably Queensland, it is understood. In Victoria, at the instance of the National Roads and Motorists' Association, great use is already being made of them. HEAD-LIGHT TESTING. During the, past two weeks, over 300 cars have attended at the City Council He'ad-'Light Testing Station, where the officials of the Auckland Automobile Association have been busy adjusting the lights on cars belonging to members. It was intended to have mechanics in attendance for only a fortnight, but so great is the demand, that the A.A.A. has decided to extend operations until next Tuesday night. Wednesday is a holiday, and in order to give service to outside motorists, a special non-members' evening will be held on Thursday, when any motorist who is not a member, but who is willing to join the Association, will be catered for. Testing begins at 7 p.m. when there are usually up to 50 cars assembled. A head-light demonstration will be given at, tho A.A.A. at Devonport at an early date.