OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 4

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Motor Club was held last night, and was attended by the president (Mr P. W. Breen), Messrs F. J. Williams', E. W. G. H. Watts, J. L. Passmore, G. Thorn, A. J. Allen, C. Bingham, W. J. MTnness, W. Wright, P. W. Curtis, A. Davies, G. S. Kirby, E. J. Anderson, A. J. Campbell, H. H. Henderson, and W. A, Jenkins. CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was received from the Tuapeka County Council stating that two reflectors were required at Edie's corner on the N'Nab Junction Highway.—Referred to the Road Signs Coramitttce for approval. A letter was received from the Taieri Mouth Domain Board offering the club the northern portion of the recreation ground at Taieri Mouth as a motor camp. The use of this land could be passed over to the club free of charge during the pleasure of the Domain Board.—Referred to the Camp Committee for consideration.

The clerk of the Peninsula County Council wrote soliciting finaucial assistance from the club towards the cost of work which had recently been carried out by the council at Harrington Point. The improvements effected,, the writer stated, should prove a boon to motorists visiting Harrington Point.—Referred to the Roads Committee for report. The secretary of the .Otago Expansion League wrote stating that several complaints had been made recently concerning the state of the,high road down the Otago Peninsula. As this was one of the main scenic roads about Dunedin the league proposed at a early date to make a tour of inspection of the road, and would be pleased to be accompanied by the executive of the Motor Club. The league suggested that if after inspection the complainte were borne out immediate and combined representations should be made to the Peninsula County Council and the Main Highways Board. —The invitation was accepted, the executive deciding to accompany the league •on its tour. TELEPHONE IN CROMWELL GORGE.

The secretary pointed out that the telephone installed in Mr W. Harvey's house in Cromwell Gorge was the only one in the vicinity. It was thus assential in the interests of motorists, in the event of accidents occurring on the Gorge road. Mr Harvey was away from home during the greater part of ihe week, and the onuß fell on him to 'keep someone in attendance at the telephone throughout the day, but for this service he received practically no remuneration from the Post and Telegraph Department.—lt was decided to request the Highways Board to subsidise Mr Harvey so that he would be able to maintain an efficient service. MEMBERSHIP. Eighteen new members were elected. GENERAL MEETING. At the conclusion of the executive meeting a general meeting of members was held to allow the president to give them some idea of the club's activities during the past six months. Mr Breen explained the work done by the various committees, and emphasised the benefits that accrued to motorists who became members of the club. The patrol was always at the service of members, and motorists wishing to make a journey could, as a result of a very efficiently organised service, find out before starting the condition of any road in the province over which they proposed to travel. The club kept a constant watch on bad sections ~of the various highways, and, as an instance of the efforts of the Otago and Southland motor clubs in this direction, he would cite the M'Nab-Arthurton section of the Dunedin-. Invercargill main highway. Until a few months ago this was n particularly bad portion of the road, and was, in wet weather, a bugbear to motorists. As a result of representations made to the Highways Board, however, this piece of road was now in first-class order, and even after the recent heavy rain motorists had experienced no difficulty in negotiating it. Another useful service that the club put at the disposal of members was the registration of ears. There was now no necessity for a member to go to the Post Office to take out a driver's license or register his car; all he had to do was call on the secretary and fill in the necessary papers, and the secretary would attend to everything else. Mr Breen also referred to the Rakaia-Batik-side section of the Dunedin-Christchureh main highway, which he characterised as one of the worst sectious on the road. The Highways Board had made an offer to the local boards controlling* this section, but so far they had done nothing. It was hoped, however, that in the near future this matter would be adjusted satisfactorily. At the conclusion of the meeting an interesting address on the Haast Pass road, illustrated by lantern slides, was delivered by Mr J. Robertson, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of his lecture.