MOTOR PICNICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 10 (Supplement)

MOTOR PICNICS.

BY 'ONE WHO ENJOYS THEM. rja motor picnic with young children can Jbe ft most enjoyable affair, or it can be exactly tho reverse. It all depends upon the care and forethought bestowed upon the preparation for the event, and, as Auckland and its environs offer so many enchanting spots for picnicking, it need not be a difficult point to decide upon. Changs and Variety ol Interest. "When deciding on which part of the country the picnic is to be held, it is well to remember that children diner from adults in that they require frequent change. They must move, then lest and so on. To sit still for long is a'strain on their healthy young spirits. From experience, I find that an unbroken journey of. perhaps, fifteen or twenty miles should seldom be exceeded. Along quiet roads maintain an easy speed, and do not be afraid to stop and allow the little ones to gather flowers or to admire something which has attracted their attention. Let the Holiday Spirit Prevail. Do not concentrate on getting there. Let the holiday spirit prevail. Just dawdle along when th*.-e is no other ffic. Extraordinary understanding is shown by the parent or " Nana who can unexpectedly produce a change of raiment for a child, be it " tights" for climbing. ' or woollies to replace sodden garments after a fall in water or mud. A small first-aid outfit is often handy, and can bo hidden away in the pocket of tho car, unbeknown to the youngsters. Screw-top glass jaw are invaluable at picnics, for, almost everything can bo safely and hygienically contmned in them. Milk is be:;t conveyed as it arrives from the farm in a glass bottle with cardboard disc and cap undisturbed. Place it in an upright position, well packed round to prevent undue motion, in one corner nt the back of the seat in the car. I find it will thus keep in perfect condition all day* Ensuring a Siesta. After luuch it is wise to return to the car for a little run. This gives the children a chance for their " siesta," and the adults get some rest, too. I think it is this important point which makes nil the difference, for when the next halt is made it will be found that all are ready for a romp or rtroU before tea* time. One mother has had her child s cot slung between tho front and back seats of her car, with tho child's nurso placed alongside. When tho little one is tired ho is placed in this and tho car is driven with great care to prevent jostling or jolting. Wraps and rugs are obviously important. Watc.. proofed rugs are best. They ctr. be n-atly folded and placed on tho "scats, where 'they will cause no inconvenicuco and will bo useful .to spread (Upc-n the grass later.

A CRITIC OK TRAFFIC.

Superintendent Spycr, of Sydney, has fje-'iticised the traffic control exercised in AucHand. While* police control in Sydney may lie excellent many -will not agree that all problems would be solved by transferring full authority to the police. Mr. Spyer claims that his own force proves what can be accomplished by police control. Ono might easily find a municipal traffic force which will show •just as conclusively that the job is best done by the civic authorities. Whatever credit is given to the Sydney system as much cannot be said for Melbourne. The National Safety Council of Australia wrote to the Chief Secretary within the last few weeks, urging immediate additions -io the police detailed for traffic duty. In view of the advocacy for police control the situation in Melbourne is interesting. The following from a Melbourne exchange suggests that it is possible for even the police to fall short of the H°,aJ: —" Discussing the question yesterd v + -he secretary for the National Safety Co en ! said his organisation was concerned r ' 4 ho ever-present danger to human li. ! many uncontrolled busy intersect.'- • . i the city, and in some parts of the -suburbs, and it was hoped that the Ministry would realise the danger that existed through the lack of adequate traffic control at such places. It was imperative that traffic at all busy intersections should be directed and controlled from 8 o'clock in the morning till 6 o'clock or 7 o'clock in the evening. Two intersections at which traffic was controlled by the police for only part of the-: day were Queen Street and Collins Street, and Queen Street and Bourke Street, and at ths intersection of Elizabeth and Latrobe Streets no constable was on traffic duty at any part of the day. Traffic at all those intersections, he said, Bhould be under police direction from morning till dusk.

STOCK CAE RACING.

Stock car racing is ail excellent institution if manufacturers can be made to see ere to eye on a definition of " stock." The American Automobile Association recently announced the withdrawal of it 3 supervision from stock car racing until there is more uniform accord as to-what constitutes a stock car, and some finality to arguments which arise when the interpretation is challenged. Some manufacturers who enter " stock" models turn out to the races with cars which have been ■" hotted up" to a performance quite beyond that attainable by any car drawn conscientiously from a stock of normal road-ready models.