OTAGO MOTOR CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20499, 29 August 1928, Page 11

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Otago Motor Club was held in the club rooms last night. The preddnet (Mr A. E. Ansell) occupied the chair. A letter was received from the Southland Motor Association stating that it would gladly co-operate with the Otago Club in providing a colour scheme for the coastal route via Owaka. The Otago Club could provide the colour signs from the Dunedin end in respect to the Bal-clutha-Catlins, Maclennan road, and thus a through scheme would be installed. — The matter was referred to the Sign Posting Committee, with power to act. The, Southland Association wrote enclosing a letter which it had received from Mr C. Campbell, drawing attention to the flooding of a section of road near Pomahaka. The association asked for the co-operation of the ■ Otago Club in remedying the flooding.—The matter was referred to the club s engineer (Mr I'. J. Williams). _ ' It was decided to look into complaints regarding a dangerous corner on the Gladstone road, and also one at the Gardens. “ SAFETY FIRST ”, POSTER.

A letter was received from the secretary of the Otago Education Board dealing with the necessity of instructing children regarding the dangers of street traffic.—The secretary stated that the board had decided to promote a " safety first ’’ poster competition on the matter, and asked the assistance of the club in the way of providing prize money. The chairman said that the board was making a donation of £5 towards the competition, and that the executive had also decided to make a grant oi £5. Mr G. T. Thorn said he believed that the teaching of "safety, first" principles would be placed on the education syllabus shortly.

ROAD fO UPPER JUNCTION

A letter was received from some residents of Sawyers’ Bay drawing the attem tion of the club to the rough state ot the road leading to the Upper, Junction. It was 'decided to subsidise a reasonable amount'expended on the Toad to the extent of.’fSO.

PASSING TRAMCARS

The chairman said that .from a recent ruling it had been made quite clear that a motorist could overtake and pass a tramcar on either the left or the right hand side, at the discretion of the, motorist. If a motorist passed on the right-hand side, however, the onus was on him to'see that the road was clear. SOUTH ISLAND UNION.

Messrs W. Wright. J. L. Passmore, H. ,W. Reid, A. I. W. Wood, A. E. Ansell, and H. Halliday were appointed the delegates to the annua] meeting of the South Island (Now Zealand) Motor Union, to be held in Christchurch on September 28- . It was decided to nominate Mr A. E. Ansell as president and Messrs Haigh (Invercargill) and Harley (Christchurch) as vice-presidents. WAIPORI FALLS ROAD.

.Messrs Reid Bros. (Berwick) wrote stating that owing to the inconsiderate action of a few motorists they had decided to withdraw the privilege hitherto extended to the general public of using the section of road between the first two iron gates on the Berwick-Waipon r ails road. ■ , ~ It was decided that a deputation should wait on the City Council to ask for another entrance to the locality. Mr H. H. Henderson said he believed an attempt would be made to put the old road in order again. In answer to a question the chairman said that the Dunedin City Corporation's private buses were not allowed to go over the road. He understood that the City Council was likely to negotiate with-the Taieri Council to get another entrance. TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

Mr H. Barker, of Dunedin, gave an illustration of the working of a safety traffic signal, the object of which is to give a clear, and decided indication ot direction, or change of direction, of motor vehicles, to pedestrians, drivers of other motors, or any other traffic on the road’. The method of accomplishing this is by* the use of indication lights which are under the control of the driver, and which will show the intended course of the motor vehicle. These lights can be set at any distance before making change of direction which will- leave drivers two hands free fob any emergency. The lights can be of a colour distinctive and different from any other light used on cars (posaifaly green), and large enough and strong enough to be seen either in daylight or darkness. The light is easily operated by the driver using only one switch, which avoids any chance, of operating the wrong switch; A light shows near the switch directly ip front of the driver, telling him just what his indication lights are telling everybody else.