THE OTAGO AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 7

THE OTAGO AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—«tn this morning's issue of your paper an advertisement by the Automobile Association of Otago, plus a paragraph in the local news, informs the public that this one-time energetic body is to hold a general meeting to consider a proposal to erect new club rooms.

For some time past it has been an open secret round town that the executive of the Automobile Association of Otago has been arguing this proposition, until things have now come to such a state that personalities have entered into the question with the result that some of the members of the executive will not attend meetings.

I learn that a property at the corner of Filleul street and St, Andrew street is to be considered as a site suitable for a club room. Why not consider St. Clair at the same time? St. Clair, if not convenient, would at least have some dignity about it in the matter of locality. As for Filleul street, it is. in my opinion, first too far away—in other words not conveniently situated for a club room—and secondly, it is a manufacturing centre and one lacking the dignified atmosphere which a club room should enjoy. Further, what is a building going to cost with material at the present peak prices? Land and buildings will probably cost anything from £ 10,000 to £14,000, according to the size and finish—a load which present members will have to pay off f o- the benefit of the next generation Would it not be more to the point if the Automobile Association woke up and fell into line with other associations and gave its members some real service in the way of road patrols, free legal advice, etc.? What members want is service, and not a monument to Mr F. J. Williams or some other members of the Automobile Association of Otago. If one were not positively sure that the gentlemen who compose the executive of the Automobile Association of Otago were above reproach one might be led to assume, as so many of them are connected with the building trade and land agency business, that some one was getting a commission out of the transaction. As. however, (hat cannot be the case, one must look elsewhere for the reason, which loads one to wonder if there is anything in the rumour that (he executive is a very disrupted body, owing to the attitude of the president, 1 trust that at this general meeting the president will assure members that his executive are a happy family and 100 per cent, with him. I for one shall certainly attend the meeting and can assure Mr Williams that 1 shall have great pleasure in asking some very pertinent Questions By the way 1 note the advertisement says “and any other matters of interest to the association which the chairman may permit to be discussed." Very nicely worded, .1 I bring up oven a relative matter which does not suit the chairman he will rule me out of order Truly a lovely state of affairs.—I an. etc.,

Dunedin June 19 Member iWe are informed Uiai it is contrary to fact to say that “ personalities have entered into the question with the result that some of the members of the executive will not attend meetings.” There is a division of opinion in the executive with reference to this subject. and it is because of this that a special meeting of members has been called. Only two or three members of the executive are connected with the building trade and land agency busi-

ness, and they are, we understand, opposed to the acquisition of a site and erection of new club rooms. We have omitted from the above letter several questions of a personal nature. IJ e y are questions which may be asked at the meeting of the club more fittingly than through the columns of the press. Ed, 0.D.T.1