OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21979, 14 June 1933, Page 13

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

GENERAL MEETING / A general meeting of members of the Otago Motor Club was held in the clubrooms in Moray place last night. There was a large attendaucee, and the chair was occupied by the president (Mr P. W. Breen). The object of the meeting was to place reports of the club’s activities before members and to enjoy an hour of harmony. The chairman said that though they were not calling general meetings of members,, the club was going on well. They had an executive that comprised a keen body of workers; every member of it was energetic and helpful. When the executive met once a month it was always occupied for a considerable time in adopting and discussing various reports. Members did not use the chlbrooms as much as they might. The secretary had a fund of, information regarding reading and motoring matters generally, which be was willing to impart to inquirers. Next year, when members were registering their cars, instead of having to go to the Telegraph Office and fill in it would be possible for them to come to the secretary and fill in the forms and the plates, would be. obtained from them. About 50 or. 60 members had taken advantage of that arrangement this year. _ The club received numerous telephone rings throughout the year with regard to the condition of roads, and they had full information in that, respect. If there was a portion of a road impassable they were advised to that effect, and such information was at all times at the disposal of the members. On one day last year as many as 367 rings were received respecting the state of certain roads. The club’s relation with

. public bodies at present could not be more , cordial. The Public 'Works Department, the police, and the General Committee of 1 the City Council did all they could to help ■ them. Parking was a matter that had created much discussion. The General Committee, especially' that of last year, had met them very reasonably. The Moray place parking area had been reinstated, and it had proved a boon. The lower part was much better for parking than Upper Moray place, and there was less danger . with regard to stolen cars; it was easy to prevent it by locking one’s car or taking out a part of the mechanism. The club desired to suggest that ignition locks especially or some other method should be adopted by every member, and the police and the traffic officers should not be left to look after cars. The club had done all it could to help the police in the detection of culprits. Motor clubs in New Zealand had done good service in educating young people in the safest way to cross over a street —that was, to look both ways when they stepped off a footpath instead of looking only the way they were going. School children ought to be educated in that respect. Patrols had been instituted at schools, and since they commenced duty, he was pleased to say, no accident had occurred at a school. The committee had asked the authorities to enforce the bylaw that cyclists must have the rear mudguard painted white. The chairman also referred to insurance costs, price of petrol, and advertising hoardings, and claimed that the club had been of service in all these respects. Brief addresses were given by Mr F. J. Williams (chairman of the Roads Committee), Mr G. Watts (Social Committee), Mr E. J. Anderson (who spoke about the third party risk), and Mr S. Kirby (who touched on the club’s finances). Mr E. J. Anderson moved—“ That this meeting of members of the Otago Motor Club tenders to Mr J. L. Passmore its sincere thanks for and grateful appreciation of the outstanding work he hag accomplished in preparing and editing for the past 10 years the club’s Year Book. The comprehensive nature of the contents of the book must be the beet commendation of Mr Passmore’s effort, which bids fair to be the basis of a complete guide book for the southern portion of the Dominion, and, further, that this motion be published in the tenth annual Year Book.” The motion was seconded by Mr F. J. Williams and carried by acclamation. Mr Passmore thanked the club for its acceptable gift. During the evening a capital entertainment programme was supplied by Miss Dorothy Sligo, Miss Anita Winkel, Messrs A. Lungley, L. Moller, and E, Eggers, Mrs Yule acted as accompanist.