OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18674, 2 October 1922, Page 3

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. Tlio annual meeting of tho Otago Motor Club was held on Sat unlay night in Iho Savoy lounge. There was a full attendance of members and tho president, Mr A. E. Ansell, being in (ho chair. Tho Chairman expressed pleasure at seeing so many present, and mentioned that tho first business would bo to elect new members in order that they might have a voice in tho proceedings. Now members to the number of 51 were thou elected. Tho Chairman said that in giving rough details of tho year’s work the principal matter was tho proposed legislation with regard to motoring. Coming to the balance sheet he said tho first item was sidisci splines. They bad a good balance, and the assets in excess of liabilities were £528 Amongst tho assets wero £250 for unpaid subscriptions, but since tho publication of tho report £7O had been paid in. TIo might say (hat a largo number of the unpaid subscriptions were owing by fanners who had had a. hard time during the last few years. Who’.’, tho good limo oamo those would remember tho Otago Motor Club. There was a cash balance of £575. One of their most successful functions had been tho orphans’ outing whoa they had taken to Wingatui tho inmates of every orphan home in Dunedin, and it reflected great credit upon the chib that they had been able to do so. they had had more cars for the purpose than they required. He hoped to seo this continued. Quo thing the chib laid tried hard for during the last few years was to maintain a friendly relationship with county councils, and it had been very successful, in this direction They recognised the difficulties that tho motor movement bad brought about for county councils, and had been sympathetic and considerate and that had been recognised by tho various councils that had been interviewed over different matters. Ho wont on to refer to tho conference with the West Harbour Borough Council, which had limited the speed in certain parts to six miles an hour, and explaincd how as a, result of demonstrations the limit had been increased to 15 miles an hour. Tho policy in relation to making grants to local bodies had become necessary. Since tho motor taxation had been imposed they had thought it 111 to overhaul their policy, and their present policy was that they made no grants. There had been a. groat improvement. Accidents had been prevented, and it was on the cards that there had been a saving of life. In tho railway report (here was a complaint, made in regard to motor ears at level crossings, and he thought that they ought to take notice of the warning. No one wanted to meet Ids death by meeting with a train. They should’consider the feelings of the engine drivers who sometimes had a very difficult job over approaching motors. They should give the men m charge of the trains every possible assistance. A Christchurch magistrate had suggested that it should bo compulsory that rear reflects should ho carried ou motor and foot cycles, and ho thought it was a good suggestion. If there was a rear reflect it was easy to pick up and accidents might be avoided. In regard to left-hand drive cars, and some people in Dunedin would have them, a magistrate at Home had hold that the driver could not signal, and would bo liable for not signalling. He (the speaker') thought that all motorists turning should indicate tho direct ion in which they were going to turn. A great deal of talk went on about the carelessness of motorists, but pedestrians showed as much carelessness as motorists. Ho would suggest that the City Council might do something to avoid danger at the Stock Exchange. The traffic there was not very well regulated, and it was reasonable to expect that there would be an accident there some of these days. Tho traffic wanted regulating. Speaking of tho success of tho South Island Union lie mentioned that (ho present membership was about 5000, and represented motorists from the Bluff to Marlborough and Nelson. It would bo remembered that they had had a New Zealand Union, but for reasons that fell through, and it had been thought advisable to form a South Island Union. He had been against that, at (he start, hut tho success of tho fifing had proved that he and others were wrong. Tho union had done a good deal in the matter of legislation, and given a lead to the Government, or tho Minister in charge of Bills. There had been prepared a list of social hotels throughout the. South Island, and anyone would save a year’s subscription by this scheme. Ho wanted to-put in a word of appreciation of what the Christchurch executive had done on behalf of (he South Island. Tho work of the club had been largely directed towards assisting to form publio opinion in regard to tho demand for better roads, and to show the efficiency and economy of good roads. They had not progressed very far in a material way, but they had got the Government stirred up to do something. One of the best things the club had over done had been to got Mr Couston to write his report. Ho (Mr Ansell) congratulated the City Council on the start it had made In modernise (he streets. The council had shown discrimination in choosing what roads it should start on Tho club had in hand an elaborate scheme for sign posts throughout tho conn try to give warning of dangerous places. There were now signs between Dunedin and Oamaru. The elub had about 700 members, hut he was not satisfied with tho membership. which should be three times as great. Coming to legislation, he said they had a tyro tax which had been advocated by motorists, and also a suggestion for tho licensing of motor car drivers. He thought that anyone, breaking the regulations .should have Ids license endorsed or stopped from driving altogether. The Government had put. on a tyro tax last year, and had come forward with a proposal that motorists should pay £5 per annum for every car That the club took very strong exception to. and was fighting it. Tho club considered that such a tax could not he levied without seriously affecting the efficiency of motoring. It was beyond the economic limit. Motor cars had become part, of the life of tho community, and in connection with transport it was slated that 85 per cent, of it was business traffic. The clnh was fighting the Government over mad hoards, and had had a conference in Wellington in .Time. The club had fought for two road hoards, but the Minister had been very firm against road hoards. 'The club’s idea was that (hey should have (wo road hoards because the work was spread over such a. largo area of country. It would cost, morn lo construct roads in the North Island than in the. South Island, and what, was asked was that (lie South Island should pet a fair proportion of Bio funds collected from motorists. They were not prepared to pay the tax- here to* make mails for (he North Island, and strong representations .had been made that the proportion of vehicles registered should ho taken into account. They wore willing In pay their quota, hut did not think it reasonable (hat they should pay tlirec-iiflhs. With regard to the carrying business, while ’is value was fully recognised, it. had to ho remembered that it did a considerable amount, of damage to the roads, nud ho thought Government was right in limiting the weight to be carried by those commercial vehicles. He moved the adoption of (lie report and balance sheet. Mr M. Stevenson, in seconding the motion, agreod that the memhershiu was not so large as i! ought (o he. Pretty well every commercial man had been right np against the mol or car man at the conference. Ho Cthe commercial man) compared (lie speed of his ear with the molor ear, and it. was difficult lo convince him that his conclusions were wrong. Mr E. W. Milchell suggested that these defaulting in payment, of their subscriptions 1-i’ouii-rd rounding np, and that the City (V,nmol should take greater cent ml of the whole vehicular traffic, as well as motors. The mot mu was carried. Tho election of officer? resulted as under: Patron, Sir John Boherts; president. Mr IT. Haliiday: vice-nrcsidonls—Messrs A. f. W. Wood and J. L. Passmore; treasurer, Mr ]’. W. Breen; auditors, Messrs W, ],. King and G. M’Geor/e; hou. solicitor, Mr D, Monriy : (’vcle < Vi»’mil toe--Messrs Mb A. Gibb. A. M. Sheriff. J. IT. M’Donald, G. Sheriff. J?. G. Kofoeii. and P. E. (Tapper ton; and Gar Gommitlep-—Messrs P. W. Gnrtis, W. WnVhl. .T. A. Roberts E AV Mock, H. M r . Reid. Tf. S. Reid, R. I,' Jo"os, and E. T Garler. Tl was decided that a molor cycle rehahilitv fri'd lo GTydo and back he held on I,a hour Dnv. Mr C. H. Hayward presented (he cups won during the past, year, and the customary votes n [ (hanks concluded (ho merlins'. During Ihe evening several songs and recitations wri'e given. a"’engs( (l lf , p,,,.. formers being Me-'-i's R. Walls and .7. R. M'Gnupcll, Mr .1, Passim.re presided at Ills; piano,