INSURANCE FOR MOTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 10 (Supplement)

INSURANCE FOR MOTORS.

CONSIDERATION BY A.A.A.

An insurance scheme for motor vehicles formulated by Lloyds is being investigated by the Auckland Automobile Association. The policies offered provide for the usual comprehensive risks at rates below thoso of the tariff companies. In some cases the premiums are 20 per cent, below the customary rates. The South Island Motor Union recently inaugurated an insurance scheme for the affiliated automobile associations and already several hundred motorists have transferred their policies. As existing insurances expire an increasing support is expected. The Wairarapa Automobile Association has been operating its own insurance scheme for some time. Tho majority of the automobile associations in New Zealand have recorded approval of compulsory insurance for all motor vehicles.

CAE THEFTS. The unlawful conversion of motor-cars is giving cause for grave concern in Auckland. Over 80 cars in six months is a record above that of any city in the Dominion, a id it compares very unfavourably with overseas cities of a similar size. The average of three cars a week may be compared with Melbourne's average of five a week. Unless better supervision is exercised in Auckland this class of offence will get out of hand. Arrests are too few to serve as a deterrent, and the few offenders caught are usually released on probation. At present the cars are always recovered, but as the offences increase no doubt the ingenuity of the thieves will result in the absolute disappearance and disguise of some vehicles.

Over 100,000 cars were, stolen in the United States last year. In New York City alone the annual thefts exceed 10,000. Ten American cities report annual car thefts exceeding 2000, and in some of the larger cities as much as 25 per cent, are never recovered. Over 3000 cars were not traced in New York during 1924. In Michigan and Maryland great satis-' faction is felt that only 5 per cent, of the cars are not recovered. In London, car stealing is, by comparison, less serious than in Auckland. The thefts in the great metropolis average only six a week, or twice *ae Auckland rate. From the annual report of the Commissioner of Police of London -it appears that during 1925 the number of motor vehicles reported to have been stolen from all parts of Great. Britain was 658, as compared with 521 in i 924, 456 in 1923, 598 in 1922, and 1016 in 1921. During the five years named car thefts increased from 380 to 438, while those of motor-cycles declined from 636 to 220. The number recovered during 1925 was 451, of which 333 were cars and 118 motorcycles. In the London Metropolitan police district, where the thefts numbered 531 cars and 92 motor-cycles, the great majority were those of vehicles loft unattended in the stVeets.

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES. Signposts were erected by the service officer of the A. A. A. this week in the Thames Valley, and the posting between Tauranga, Hamilton and Taupo, and Matamata and Te Aroha was completed. The service officer will bo on holiday next week, and shortly after his return will make a trip over tho Taupo-National Park Napier route. ADVICE ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION. The advisability of holding consultation with a civil engineer on roading questions was emphassed at the meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association last week. Mr. G. Henning said the association's deliberations would be greatly aided if an experts's advice was available upon road and bridge construction. The question was referred to tho Roads and Signs Committee. SPEED AT RANGIRIRI. Instances of speeding past the Rangiriri School are boing reported, and some concern is felt, for the safety of children who travel on this road. There is a blind head shortly before teaching the school, and after passing this motorists are inclined to accelerate and race past the School on the down grade. Children are frequently crossing the road to the horse paddock, and any driver who takes full advantage of the excellent surface is running a risk. The Auckland Automobile Association has erected a warning sign which removes any excuse for speeding. UNIFORM SIGNPOSTNG To prevent the erection of confusing signboards, the Main Highways Board has issued regulations dealing with the specification of signs. Local bodies and automobile associations have been furnished with particulars. The board has received authority to subsidise automobile associations £1 for £1 for signposting. The board will also subsidise the mainten-, ance of existing posts on the main highways at the same rate. All posts erected since September 1. 1925, will bear this subsidy. The Auckland Automobile Association spent nearly £4OO on signposting for the year up to May 31, 1926. A large proportion of this money was spent on signposting tho main highways. BRITISH A.A. The annual meeting of the Automobile Asso'ciation of Great- Britain was held on July 14. The annual report pointed out that the association started in 1905 with 100 members and had now a .membership in nearly 302,000. The report also indicated that the A.A. road organisation covered 18,500,000 miles during 1925, and the patrols assisted 143,000 members during the Easter vacation. The expenditure on road services was £627,523.