MOTORING INTERESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23057, 7 December 1936, Page 6

MOTORING INTERESTS

SOUTH ISLAND UNION QUARTERLY MEETING The quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union was held in Queenstown on Friday night and was attended by Messrs F. J. Williams (president, Otago), J. L. Passmore, E. W. G. H. Watts, H. H. Henderson, W. F. Sutton (Otago), B. Falck (Marlborough), H. Lightband, G. S. Morns, F. W. Freeman, F. W. Johnston, J. S. Hawkes (Canterbury). J. R. Haigh, J. S. Dick, D. J. Wesney, A. E. Lea (Southland), W. R. Carey (Pioneer Amateur Sports Club), J. W. Petrie.. J. H. Main, W. Gillies (North Otago). W. Geddes (Waimate), J. Foote (South Canterbury), H. S. Rqid (Nelson), P. Harvey (secretary) and G. Lawrence (secretary of the North Island Motor Union). , , ~ The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor of Queenstown (Mr W. H. Overton), who said that this was the first occasion on which a conference of the union had been held outside the recognised centres. Good wishes for the success of the meeting were also extended by the chairman of the Lake County Council (Mr L.Lee). The holding of the meet ing in Queenstown, he said, showed that the union realised the importance of roads in connection with tourist traffic.

DEATH OF FORMER SECRETARY The president referred to the death of Mr P. R. Harman, a former secretary and member of the union, and on his motion it was decided to place on record a minute expressing appreciation of Mr Harman's services. DIMMING OF LIGHTS

The secretary reported that, in response to inquiries with respect to the dimming of lights, the Automobile Association (England) had forwarded a copy of the British lighting regulations. The executive had suggested to the Transport Department that a portion of these rules should be adopted in New Zealand. The commissioner of transport had advised, however, that the National Road Safety Council had recommended that a descending beam be made compulsory, that the off-side beam be directed to the left, and that the use of pass lights be permitted. The advisability of extinguishing the off-side light in accordance with the English practice was discussed, and finally the matter was referred to the executive. ACCESS TO STEAMERS

Advice was received from the Lyttelton Harbour Board that it could not comply with the request of the union for facilities to allow passengers by motor car to have access to the steamer express. Mr Freeman pointed out that the only means of access to the ship's side was by train and that Lyttelton was the only port at which this state of affairs existed. This was contrary to the policy of attracting tourists to the Dominion and offering them the best facilities. .. , ~ A motion expressing regret that the Lyttelton Harbour Board should have reached such a decision and asking it to reconsider the matter was carried. RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT

A request was made by the Australian Association that the union should sign an agreement with 'it for the opeiation of a "triptyque" system under which the associations in both countries would plan trips for visiting motorists and would facilitate Customs arrangements. A motion was carried approving of the.scheme and leaving the details to the executive.

A proposal was made by the Southland Association that a reciprocal arrangement should be made with the Australian associations with a view to the granting of the privileges of honorary membership to visiting members. The matter was referred to the executive, which was asked to make the necessary arrangements. MAIN HIGHWALS BOARD

In response to a request for'an additional motorists' representative on the Main Highways Board, the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) advised that the board was considered satisfactory for administrative purposes, and no alteration was contemplated. LIGHTS ON RAILWAY ENGINES In reply to representations for an improvement of the lights on locomotives, the Minister of Railways (Mr D. G. Sullivan) advised that electric lights were being installed on the engines as rapidly as the equipment could be manufactured. It was hoped that all the installations would be completed by July next. WHARF CHARGES A letter was received from the Marlborough Association outlining the objections which it had made to the wharf charges on motor cars at Picton and to the freight charges on cars between Picton and Wellington. The secretary reported that the Government had promised to reconsider the wharf charges at a later date, and the executive was instructed to continue the pressure for a reduction. REGISTRATION OF CYCLISTS On behalf of the Otago Association Mr Henderson moved "That the Government be asked to embody in regulations the registration of cycles." Mr Henderson said that cyclists riding three and four abreast were a danger on the roads, and regulations dealing with cyclists were required. The first step in this direction should be the registration of cyclists. Mr Hawkes said that the National Safety Council was introducing regulations of the kind suggested by Mr Henderson, but not, he understood, providing for registration. . Mr Lawrence pointed out that legislation providing -"or the registration of cyclists had been introduced in the House of Representatives but had been dropped. The assistance of local bodies had been sought without definite action being taken. Mr Morris pointed out the difficulty of identifying cyclists if an offence were committed. He advocated action by the union to assist the Government in controlling cyclists. Mr Lightband said he considered that it would be in the interests of the cyclists themselves if they were registered. Mr Freeman asked whether motorists would be prepared to agree to motor taxation being expended on cycle tracks. Delegates: Yes.

The motion was carried, with the addition of the words "in the interests of all road users."

NEW SPEED LIMIT The secretary reported that the executive had consulted the Main Highways Board with respect to the advisability of erecting signs to indicate the areas in which the speed limit of 30 miles an hour applied. The executive had been, advised not to act hastily, as it would be necessary for the Transport Department officially to define the limits. The executive had agreed that it was inadvisable to erect signs until definite information was available.

It was decided to ask the chief Government traffic inspector to visit the South Island and define the areas in conjunction with the automobile associations, the county councils, and other local bodies. DOUBLE LINES OF TRAFFIC

Mr Johnston expressed the opinion that, owing to the congestion which so frequently occurred, the time had arrived when more than a single line of traffic should be allowed. It would be a good idea, he said, to persuade local bodies to give the scheme a trial on such occasions as race days, for the education of traffic inspectors if for no other reason. The inspectors seemed to have the idea that traffic must be confined to one line in either direction. Before a race meeting there could be two lines in the direction of the course and one in the other direction, and at the conclusion of the meeting the position could be reversed. He would like the delegates to think the matter over and endeavour to influence local bodies.

DUNEDIN-CROMWELL HIGHWAY Mr Reid said that he understood that the main highway from Dunedin to Cromwell was to be altered so that Alexandra would be omitted. , He thought that a majority of motorists would prefer to travel via Alexandra. He moved that it be a recommendation to the Main Highways Board that the route of the highway remain as at present, instead of via Earnscleugh Flat.

An amendment was moved by Mr Johnston that the executive be asked to ascertain the facts and confer with the interested associations. The amendment was carried. GENERAL

A motion was carried approving of the action of the Main Highways Board in deciding that the unsealed portion of the main highway at Studholme should be paved. Mr A. Donaldson (Chnstchurch) was elected to a vacancy on the executive.

After a discussion in committee, it was decided to commend to the National Safety Council the advantages of school patrols and to take some further action in regard to financing the scheme.