MOTOR CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 13

MOTOR CONFERENCE.

MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS.

TECHNICAL TRAINING SCHEME. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday. Tho motor trades conference carried a remit from the Te Kuiti branch that an emphatic protest bo forwarded to tho Government, against its action in withdrawing tho £200,000 subsidy from the Highways Board fund, as it is considered a direct breach of faith with motorists, inasmuch as it will interfere with tho Highways Board giving expeditious effect to its programme, and also directly opposed to tho original promises made when imposing tho petrol tax. It was decided to telegraph tho remit to a meeting of delegates from local bodies and others interested in highway finance, to be held in Wellington tomorrow.

It was reported that (lie benevoleiit fund, instituted in 1925, had made little progress until the present year. A credit balance of £5 last year had been increased to £9B. At tho present rate of income it would bo some years before it would ho possible to operate on tho fund unless tho incorno was substantially increased. Tho technical training schemo was stated to have made substantial progress (lining tho year. Tho largo amount of time and monoy spent was now beginning to give satisfactory results. Classes were in operation at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Ghristchurch, Timaru, Oamaru and Invcrcargill, with a prospect of one commencing at Wanganui. In all, 350 boys in the motor trade were being trained each year. A number were turned out capable of taking up important positions in tho motor trade. The committee hopes that in the next two years the number will ho doubled. The timo had arrived when it was necessary to provide a regular source of income, and £7OO per annum was required. Tho conference decided that every member of tho trado, with tho exception of benzine and tyro sellers, bo asked to contribute IPs a year toward the fund for training mechanics, the contributions to be subsidised by tho Government. Messrs. G. W. Tench (Christchurch) and J. M. Ferguson (Tarana.ki) were appointed vice presidents of tho association. It was resolved that tho Municipal Association bo urged to tako steps to promote a maximum degree of uniformity in regulations for parking cars, street notices, and signs, to eliminate the penalties on visiting motorists. Tho Government is to be urged to proceed as soon as possible with the setting up of a Royal Commission to discuss the transport question as a vital national problom.