OTAGO MOTOR CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19311, 24 October 1924, Page 8

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB.

TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING. The twelfth, annual meeting of the Otago Motor Club was held last evening in the Savoy Somerset Lounge.' Mr W. Wright (president) was chairman, and between 70 and 80 members were present. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, first referred to the control of pedestrian traffic. The city by-laws, he said, controlled the pedestrian on the footpaths, and the road vehicle on the road, but what of the pedestrian on the road? Pedestrians paraded Princes and George streets on Friday, Saturday, and even on Sunday evenings, more especially during race weeks, refusing to give way to users of the road. Others loitered on the streets and openly defied the user of the road a reasonable opportunity to move along, or of turning into other streets. Reform was imperative. While one was reluctant to ask that the pedestrian should be kept off the streets, except when one desired to cross them, the citizen, who was for the time being driving his hcHf or his car, had certain rights to the lung's highway, rights that went unchallenged when he was walking. If the city by-laws did not already meet the contingency, then a new by-law should be framed, passed, and pul> into effect. In Paris, it was said, a pedestrian who was involved in a street accident was prosecuted unless ho could give a good and sufficient reason for being on the street. Somewhere between the Parisian and the Dunedin extremes they might yet obtain a satisfactory solution of the problem, so that they might reform those pedestrians who, with sublime ignorance, openly, defied those who, from necessity, desired to use the busy streets of the city during the evenings of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Referring to tho blockage of arterial roads, the chairman said that when a break occurred in a railway service there was almost a frantic haste to restore communication, while some roads were restored on the annual overhaul principle. For nearly 12 months fhe Milton-Lawrence road had been blocked in Manuka Gorge. The bridges were irreparably damaged by the floods of last year. Such a delay in restoring, through all weathers, road communication'was a disgrace to any local body. In this case the nearest alternative was a road dangerous to ’ experienced motorists in fine weather. It was a veritable death-trap to the novice in wet weather. Tho effect of such a blockage fell heavily on small towns beyond’such breaks. He knew that this particular delay had had a serious effect on certain classes of business in Roxburgh. From Lawrence he had a similar report. Through ■ motor traffic spelt more business for the towns en route. Nor wore the farmers’ interests fostered • by euch delays. The stock agent was one of the largest users of the motor car, yet his main business was to facilitate the transport and sale of farm produce, and the sale of farms. These agents speak in- no glowing terms of the ineptitude and procrastination of tho members of one County Council. Again, medical service demanded the open road. Hospital and motor ambulances demanded that the arterial roads should bo opened as soon as passible. In short, it was a serious business to delay such work one day longer than was absolutely necessary. The exigencies of modern traffic, of modern progress, and of modern civilisation demanded the speediest restoration of through arterial road communication. The time must come when the Highways Board would take a similar view and see that never again should a whole year elapse between tho blocking of an arterial road and its restoration, unless an alternative route, safe and passable in all weather, was available. Two letters had come to hand this week from club members complaining bitterly of the dangerous state of this Gorge road. The surface was very bad, while the approaches to the bridges lacked fences, and, in the opinion of one of the writers, so bad that a fatality must sooner or later take place. In speaking of the city- by-laws, Mr Wright said that even such by-laws might be unreasonable, and tho six-mile speed limit at all street intersections would have to go sooner or later. When a favourable opportunity presented itself the club’s executive had decided to take the matter up, and assist a motorist who had broken this antiquated by-law. As a result the by-law had been declared unreasonable, and the police were now proceeding against offending motorists under the Motor Regulations Act for driving at a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances of the case. Mr J. J. Purdie seconded the motion, and the report and balance sheet were adopted. POSTPONEMENT OF MEETING. Mr P. W. Breen, in speaking of the motion, referred to the postponement of the annual meeting. He said that the objection raised by two members was frivolous. The facts were that the notices were not sent out before the required number of days, and there was nothing to be gained by putting off tho meeting. The two members who had raised the objection had stated' that if the meeting was held they would take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary. He was sure no court in the world would uphold the objection. He congratulated the secretary (Mr P. H. Power) on securing such a large number of new members during the year, but said that with the number of registrations in Dunedin tho club should have a membership of 3000. Mr A. I. Wood said that he was prepared to take his share of the blame, but the blame should be shouldered- by the committee. It was necessary to give seven days’ notice for the calling of a meeting, but the postponement did not inconvenience anyone, and was not worth worrying about. The Chairman explained that the point had been raised by a member of tho committee why the meeting had been called before seven days’ notice had been given, but as this was merely a technical breach and had been brought about owing to the Year Book coming to hand two days late, it had been suggested that the meeting might still l>e held, and the position explained to members. Later on, however, two members of the committee declared that they would raise the point at the annual meeting, and it was decided to postpone the meeting until October 23 bo that tho requisite seven days’ clear notice could be given. REFERENCE TO GORGE ROAD. Mr S. B. Macdonald congratulated the club on the scope of its activities during tho past year. He ■ also congratulated the president on the efficient manner in which he had conducted the affairs of the club. In referring to the Gorge road, he said that the surface at the present time was in a deplorable state. It was of no nee, however, to blackguard the Bruce County Council, as that body had over 20 miles of roads of the poorest country to maintain. This road should, become a Government road, and it would then be the Government’s duty to maintain it. Influence should be brought to bear to compel the Government to take over the control of the road. This road would be in much use in the near future. The Public Works Department had now decided to supply the money to put the road in thorough order if the Bruce County Council supplied the labour, and ho hoped that the president of the club would have a different tale to unfold next year. It was not fair to blackguard the County Council, as they could not expect that body to utilise the ratepayers’ money on road maintenance when it was required for other purposes. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr A. El. Ansoll; vice-presidents, Messrs J. L. Passmore and A. I. W. Wpod; treasurer, Mj. H, W. Reid: auditor, Messrs A. C. M'George and J. T. Hamann; committee—-Messrs P. W. Breen, P. W. Curtis, L. D. Coombs, J. T. Cooper, F. J. Carter, A. D. Edgar, W. E&qnilant, H. H, Henderson, A. Ibbotson, L. H. Johnson, R. Macadam, J. J. Purdao, J. A. Roberts, H. W. Reid, A. Sborriff. GENERAL. Mr S. B. Macdonald appealed to members to lend their cars on that day of the polling in connection with the Exhibition Highway proposal for the purpose of conveying people to the polling booths. Two hundred and eight new members were elected.

It was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to Mr H. Holliday for his valuable work on behalf of the club during past years, and also to Mr F. E. Clapperton, who had also done much in the interests of the club for several years past. Mr Macdonald moved that it be a suggestion to the incoming committee to repair potholes in the city streets with' tar-seal, instead of ordinary metal. The tar had proved a great success in Queen’s drive and also at Timaru. —The motion was adopted. Th© following trophies and prizes won in the various competitions held during the years, were presented: —Car hill climb (care 1800 c.c,. and under) —C. and W. Chiel £5 Ss, S. De Beer £2 2s; cars over 1800 c.c. —C. and W. Shiel £5 ss, T. Fleming £2 2s. Drummond Cup, C. and W. Shiel. Best performance of private owner on formula, G. Moody £5 ss. Motor cycles’ solo • (Ira ss more Cup and gold medal), J. W. Robb. Motor hill climb (Passmore Cup and gold medal), J. C. Mewhinncy. Unlimited class (fastest time), A. M'Donald £2 2s.