A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

SIGNPOSTING OPERATIONS. VISIT TO SOUTH ISLAND. Extensive sign-posting operations will bo a feature of the work of the Auckland Automobile Association between now and Christmas. During the wet weather, the association has had a vast quantity of signs prepared, and these are to be erected at various points of danger, and at localities where motorists are still going astray. Tho system will include the naming of a great many of the out-of-the-way settlements and rivers, which will give roadusers an idea of their exact location when away from the more populated districts. The roads which will receive particular attention before Christmas are:—Rotorua to Bay of Plenty and Opotiki; Opotiki to Gisborno via Waioweka Valley road; Gisborne and East Coast; Mahia Peninsular; Lake Waikaremoana to Rotorua; Taupo and Tokaanu districts; National Park area; Tangarakau Gorge; Ohura-Te Kuiti on which it will be necessary to travel road; Waitomo to Marakopa; To Kuiii to Marakopa; the new road to Russell; and the majority of tho North Island routes, with particular attention to the detours while the clay gap in the lower north is under construction. Headlight testing will also be continued throughout the country and from time to timo in the city. South Island Information. The touring manager left during liio week for a comprehensive tour of the South Island. On Monday he will cross from Wellington to Picton, and will travel via Nelson to Westport, inspecting the new road which is being constructed through the earthquake area in the Buller Gorge. He will also travel over the newly-formed scenic route following the coast between Westport and Greymouth. After visiting tho glaciers, he will cross the Alps, travelling by way of the Hermitage, Pukaki, Pembroko, Lake Hawea and Quecnstown. Dunedin, Gore and Invercargill will bo passed en route to Lakes Monowai, Manapouri and Te Anau, and the return |o tho north will be made via Dunedin and Christchurch to Picton. The tour will cover between two and three thousand miles, and will occupy about four weeks. The council of the A.A.A. decided, in view of the numerous requests for accurate information concerning the South Island, to send the touring manager on this trip. The information will be filed and will be kept up to date for the use of both association members and for visitors who arrive from overseas. Latest Motoring Maps. The A.A.A. publications for tho 1931 year are now all in the printer's bands, and early in October everything required for the summer touring should bo available from the Association's Information Bureau. Of particular interest is a new booklet entitled " Day and Week-end Motor Tours Round Auckland. This will comprise a description of almost every known picnic and camping spot within a 40-mile radius of the city. Metal and clay roads will be indicated, with the mileages from the Chief Post Office. As a extra help, a supplementary map is being issued with the booklet, and, in conjunction with the table of reference, will indicate any point at a glance. This booklet should be available within tho next fortnight. Another very interesting publication which will be available within a few days is entitled " Road Service." Tho introduction states that the association wishes every member to derive the full benefits of membership, and the booklet lays out in a comprehensive manner tho various facilities to which members of the association are entitled. The road maps for which the association is now recognised as tiio leading authority, will also be available during October. Last year's maps have been revised and brought up to date, and in addition to the vast fund of information which was available in those editions, the new maps will contain tables of mileages and references which will indicate any point in New Zealand practically at a glance. NORTH ISLAND ROAD GUIDE. While in the South Island, the touring manager will confer with tiie printers and finalise the North Island Road Guide, which will be available about the middle of October. This publication, which is adopted by all the North Island Associations with the exception of one, as their official publication, will this year embody a great deal of now information, and the association advises motorists that they should not, rely on information published in the 1930 edition, as changing road conditions have made the last edition now out of date. SOUTH AFRICAN TOURING. A very interesting photograph was left with the Auckland Automobile Association this week by a Hunua resident. The picture is from a friend who is touring Africa arid shows a sign-post bearing mileages; Eldoret, 181; Arusha, 210 miles; Cairo, 3143; Capetown, 4820 miles. The signs give some indication of tho immense expanse of country. New Zealanders would indeed be amazed to see signs bearing mileages of this sort erected in this country. ROAD MILEAGES. Contrary to general belief, the United States has not the greatest amount of road mileage in relation to square miles of area. France is tho leader in this respect, having a mile of road to each .43 square mile of area. The United Kingdom comes second with a mile of road for .49 square mile of area. Ihe United States third place with a mile of road for every 101 square mile of area. New Zealand lias a mile of road to every 1.6 square miles of territory.