OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16120, 8 July 1914, Page 3

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

The monthly meeting of tine Otago Motor Club Wiifi held in the Jockey Club Rooms laet evening, Mr A. E. Ansell (vice-pre-sident) presiding over an attendance of about 2b members.

CORKESPONDEXCX The Portabeilo Koad Board wrote asking tiha club if it whs etill prepared to supply the necessary sign jx>sts, etc., lor regulating motor traffic. About 40 of these would be required.—The Roads Committee recommended that as it understood that the board was ordering all necessary aigns there was no necessity for the club going to the expense of procuring any.—This matter evoked considerable discussion, and several members expressed the opinion tihat the club should supply the signs provided tlio board erected them in accordance with the club's wishes. It was much desired that the recognised sign should be adopted by the board. Eventually a motion on these lines was carried. The Clerk of the Waikonaiti County Council wrote stating that its Inspector was preparing a report on f.he dangerous state of a corner on the Kilmog Hill, and the council's by-law providing for a penalty of £5 in the case of a person driving an ■unlighted vehicle was to be enforced. The writer also asked for the club's promised contribution of £20 towards the metalling oi the Mount Cargill road.—The Chairman expressed approval of the council having met the club so fairly in tha matter oi unlighted vehicles. It was decided that the donation of £20 towards tho metalhng of tiie Mount Cargill road should be paui over, and the council's attention be drawn to certain holes in the road which require lilling in. The Clerk of the Chitha County Council wrote acknowledging tho receipt of the sum of £40 towards metalling a portion of tho road between Balclutha and Clinton, this amount to be expended in two yearly contributions of £20.—R«:eived, Mr Munro stating that the Defence Department was approaching the Government with a view to having the whole road between Invercargill and Dunedin put in a better condition. N Mr F.) V. Thomas (Christdrarch), Qioldor of the cup for tho mile championship, wrote stating that he had noticed tlhe altered regulations under which this cup was to be contested for —namely, that tho distance should be' run from north to eouth, and then from south to north, and the mean time of each taken. He expressed hie willingness to compete at any time in the future for t tht new cup presented by Mr S. Wilson under tho altered conditions. — Received. TAXATION OP MOTOR VEHICLES. The Chairman introduced the matter of motor taxation, whidh, ho stated, would bo brought up in the very near future. It was exercising the minds of a good number of county councillors, and would come under discussion at the approaching Municipal Conference. Tho general question of motor, traffic would bo considered, and he thought tho cl-ub should do its beet to guide tho tax into the proper channels and sec that the money so raised should go towards improving the roads. The question of licensed drivers would also be discuesed, and ho certainly thought every driver should bo licensed.—(" Hear, hear."") The various methods of apportioning this tax were discussed at length/and Mr Roberta suggested that tho c'lb should affiliate with the New Zealand Automobile Association and work hand and hand with it. Mr M'Dougall moved—"That the club endeavour to secure a wheol tax upon all vehicular traffic, and tho committee push tho matter forward as fast as possiblo." Mr Munro 6econdcd the motion, which was carried. It. was then decided, on the motion of Mr J. R. M'Konzio, "That a 6ub-oommittee consisting of Messrs Ansoll, Roberts, S. Smith, E. Anscombe, and G. T. Thorne be appointed to go into the whole matter of motor taxation generally, and affiliation with the New Zealand Automobile Association." GENERAL. The Road Committee's report (already published) was adopted without discussion, and it was decided to thank the Hawera Borough Council for the information it har] supplied with reference to a new preparation for bindirur the roade. It was derided tiitit the annual presentation of prizfy? and the annual mooting shonM be held in iSr-ntembor. and should be follower! by a snc'al function. At tho clos" of th<» general business, a papT on " Road-making." 'by Mr Anisoomb<\ was read, and wiw closnlv Vafrnrd to bv all present, the writer being thanked for his paper.