MOTORISTS' INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21874, 9 August 1934, Page 14

MOTORISTS' INTERESTS

CARS AT THE CHATEAU CHARGES FOR GARAGING ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORK Tho fact that of the 27,920 members of motorists' organisations in tho North Island 15,300 wcro members of the Automobile Association was mentioned at last evening's meeting of tho council of tho association. Tho largest membership among the seven other associations was Wellington, with 4300 . members. There wcro seven other motorists' organisations in tho South Island. In reply to complaints by the association concerning tho "excessive garaging charges" at tho Chateau Tongariro, National Park, the general manager of the Government Tourist Department, Mr. G. \V. Clinkard, stated in a letter that he had approached the lessee in regard to the matter. However, the lessee had stated ho regretted he could not see his way clear to reduce the charges. It was decided to ask Mr. Clinkard to consider the matter of lower charges when the lease for the garage was being re-let. Members said the present charge of 5s for garaging a car for two nights was unduly high. The controversy as to whether the Murupara-Rangitaiki Road through a State forest area is a public road or not was again brought before tho council when copies of correspondence between the Whakatane County Council and the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, were received from the county council. The Whakatane Council maintained that early evidence showed the route, which has been closed by the Forestry Department, was a public road, whereas the department claimed it was purely a private access route for State forest activities. It was decided to take no action until further communications were received.

Regarding a complaint that the metal chips used on some roads were too large, the Main Highways Board in a letter stated it would be glad to be advised of any specific instances of the trouble. Another communication from the Main Highways Board stated it was hoped to place some additional funds on the current year's estimates so that improvements effected on the Waihi Beach Road could be maintained. Support was given to a request to the Public Works Department from the Kaitaia Town Board to increase the grant for improvements to the Wai-papakauri-Ninety-Mile Beach Road to obviate the loose sand nuisance. As a step toward uniformity in signposting in the North Island permission was granted to the Manawatn association to use the "A.A." monogram in its area. It w:v.s stated that the annual conference of the North Island Motor Union would be held at Napier on August 17. <,