AUCKLAND MOTORISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 16

AUCKLAND MOTORISTS.

1 A YEAR OF SURPRISES. f UPKEEP OF HIGHWAYS. ' INCREASE IN THE BURDEN. " The past year lias been full of surpvis'es for motorists, especially lor n 1 itomobiln associations," said Mr. A. Grayson, president of the Auckland Automol>iio Association, at the 271 h annual meeting fil tho association last evening. " Tliero lias been an increase in die petrol tax but that is not- 1110 most serii us matter. 1 tie Government, lms withdiawn front the Alain Highways Hoard tin; subsidy of £235,009, and has placed on the board tho responsibility of providing a. subsidy on rales collected by local bodies.

" This subsidy was previously paid by tho Consolidated Fund but has now been made a liability on the, board on account of the increased petrol (ax. Rehire (ho Hiehwavs Board was formed the Government was spending annually £200.000 on construction and 1235,000 on the. maintennneo of roads which were later taken over bv (lie board. Since that time tho mileage to lie maintained has increased considerably but tho subsidy remained stationary until this year. when it was withdrawn."

Mr, Grayson said the withdrawal of tho Government subsidy placed tho upkeep of Iho highways on tho motorists (o too largo an extent. The counties contributed a, little, but the burden had fallen on tho motorists, and they were not tho only users of tho roads. A deputation from nutomobilo associations wailed on tho Pririio Minister, but, nevertheless, tliero ■was tin increase of 2d a gallon in the petrol tax and the withdrawal of the subsidy. If was intended, however, (o carry on (he fight, and some redress was hoped for. Increase in Membership. The annual report and balance-sheet, fie! ails of which were published in tho Hktiald on September 11, were adopted. Mr. Grayson, in commenting on tho report, mentioned that during the past year 4850 new members had been enrolled, tho net increase m membership after allowing for resignations and deletions being 3368, which was a remarkable total considering the state of affairs generally. Tho finances of the association were very satisfactory, there being over £BOOO in the accumulated fund, mostly invested in good securities, Mr. Grayson said. The iinanco committee kept a careful watch over all expenditure, arid tho finances of tho association wore thus kept on a sound basis. During the year subscriptions canto in satisfactorily, tho percentage of unpaid .subscriptions b'eing considerably less than that of last year. Tho association had now 41. agencies established throughout tho Auckland Province, and h.'td agreed to station a patrol in any district where there was a membership of 1000 or more. Improvement of Roads.

Steady progress had been made in impioving roads, both north and south of Auckland, the president added. Tiio highway to the north was progressing very rapidly, and, although there, was still a gap, it was hoped that there would be an all-metal road to the north by the cud of the coining summer. On the southern highway progress hail been somewhat slow, on account of the Franklin County Council, which did not seem to lm able to see eye to eye with the Main Highways Board. Apart from this, however, progress had been very steady, and (ho next few years should see ;i wonderful improvement in the main southern highway.

-Mr. Grayson said he was pleased lo nolo that some definite agreement among the authorities concerned had been reached in connection with the bridge over the YVhau Creek, and akso the bridge across tho Tarnaki .River. The president paid ;i tribute to the work of Mr. M. FT. Wynyard, motorists' representative on tho .Main Highways Board, for his work in this connection, and also in the general interests of motorists throughout tho count lv Motor Camp at Russell. A motor camp will be established for this summer at Russell, which is now for tho first- time, to be reached bv a, metalled road from Whangarei," '.Mr. Grayson said. "An influx of motorists is expected, and the. camp is being prepared so that it will lie ready for the coining season's touring." Til connection with the prohibition of nil-day parking in certain congested streets in tho city trom tho beginning of next year, -Mr. Grayson said that when the. ( ify ( ouricil s scheme was announced a. deputation from the Automobile Association and the Auckland Chamber ol' Conimerco waited on the council and discussed (ho matter. Tho association representatives while recognising that it was their duty to act in tho best interests of motorists, felt Hint there were other interests to be considered, and that it would be. a general improvement' if all-da.v parking ■was to be forbidden in ecilain streets. As a result of the deputation, it was decided to permit parking for 20 minutes

;l instead of 10 minutes in city streets e:<f! ' ccpfc Queen Street, where the 10-minute | limit would still prevail. l! was hoped ji tli.il association members would use this jj lie i/eased time with due consideration for ! others and would move their cars away |j as soon as they had finished their luisi■l II ess.

If this b.v-law is given a fair chance | J think the business people will welcome | .it, and that it will be, for the better t government of the citv," Mr. Gravsou f lidded.

Attracting Racing Motoiists. Helereneo was aiso made to the possiIt 1 jtv of attracting famous lacifig mofori '-, to n'tempt, to break the wo, Id's land I! veera-fl at the Ninety Mile Beach. J V' - - hiuy.-iMi said that, apart, from the. ioillicr.|ji;i:g \ i--.it c,i Mr, Norman \v l/.ar'i" 'lli f i( early ri".\t year, there r'' l be !;•'!• well-known drivers out c. . ,\ - far a . coul.l 1 ' g < I IJ iei {(I _ t|,„ Nii.Hv Mile Beael, was 1I " : " nl - V '0 v...,:,! V here t here V -' < M,,r " '»•"« a.for an attCI"H "" ' ''e v.,„i,r . 11, '■ I:' 1b..,., j , , „ . , I " - ,f -' » ' ''"II" I'» i it' ' r/1111:•• it • • ;-i , , i ' * 1 ! lie conn "■'l- ' h' v!V,','V.i''s ,'l_. ;/) e 'ma^ej'l < leaie a r.i 0,. |, I,'jj ' V;, f'.VS Would "... I, | New Ze a land." Ihe b'llo'.'. 111 _r i 'i'i. e; - •. f, r> eject ed • ".Pre,.del, Mi A ■ vice pre,idents, .Me |.', i; |. , u ri 11. .1. I',. King and M. II Wynya'd; |j\e members of the count d: Mi nm s. 11. Butcher. ff. Curd, d. fliiberi . ||. I Jones and A. I bgnan. '