SOUTHLAND MOTOR ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 42

SOUTHLAND MOTOR ASSOCIATION.

The executive of the Southland Motor j Association met on Friday night, one of the ; vice-presidents, Mr J. E. Liliicrap, pro- j The secretary reported amid applause that the membership numbered 211. This was considered very satisfactory. When the movement started only 80 members were ! promised. . i The correspondence included a New , Year’s telegram of greeting and good ] vvisiles from the Canterbury Association, to J which a reply had been sent. t

It was decided that the fees paid hy intending members when the Association was mooted some months ago should be paid over to the present treasurer (Mr | M'Phailj. In connection with the rules of the Association it was tentatively decided to adopt those of tho Otago body with the addition of those in the Canterbury rule book relating to branches. The Chairman and Mr F. G. O’Beirne ! were appointed a committee to report in connection with the rules. Mr W. Sutton stated that he had re--1 coived a promise of £5 each from two I people towards improving the back road

to Riverton Beach. The chairman, Mr O’Beirne and Dr Brown were elected a deputation to wait on the next meeting of the Southland County Council with a view to getting this road in better order. Some discussion took place regarding the need for organising and it was decided to write to prominent motorists in Winton, Riverton, Otautau, Gore, and Wyndham, asking them to endeavour to stir up interest in the movement in their districts. In connection with town organising, the chairman and Mr O’Beirne were appointed to approach the commercial firms and garages for support. There was some talk of the need for increasing the number of signs in the district, members emphasising that it was important that these should be erected at schools, at dangerous points, and at turnings. There was a suggestion by Dr Brown that the finger posts should also carry mileage information. The secretary was instructed to write to the Otago Club for information regarding , sign posts. TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS. It is recognised by every right-thinking citizen that by laws are not brought into operation for the purpose of pinpricking users of the roads, but for the purpose of protecting pedestrians against persons who are in charge of vehicles and who are lacking in caution or commonsense, observes » “Torque Rod” in the N.Z. Times. There j are also a large number of drivers of motor cars especially who have to be protected against themselves, as is proved by cases ! that como jefore the court. A by-law made, j says, five ago, is, however, not always ; applicable a.-d reasonable nt the present j time, and they should be revised more often to meet the conditions as they exist to-day. ! It may be surprising for some people to ; learn that the speed limit through the '

streets of London is 20 miles per hour. It appears to be a high rate where the traffic is so congested, hut when one considers the position it cannot be said to-Jbe other than reasonable. If a low rate of speed was insisted on traffic would become more congested than it is. A line of vehicles all travelling in the same direction cannot go any faster than the pace of the leading one, and it is seldom that the streets of London arc so devoid of traffic that the speed limit can be fully made use of. So convinced are the London municipal authorities that a speed limit is not necessary that it is proposed to do away with it and so frame a by-law that a driver may travel at anv speed provided that the safety of life and property is not endangered. What is the use of a speed limit for Willis, Manners, and Cuba streets during the busy hours of the day'? The traffic governs the speed, and only a madman would attempt to travel at even the regulation speed, or one who should not lie allowed to have control of a steering wheel. The time, however, has not arrived in Wellington when speed limits should be done away with, but ft is approaching when they will not be necessary. OTAGO MOTOR CLUB. The first meeting of the Otago Motor Club for the new year was held on the 11th inst. The President (Mr A. E. Ansell) occupied the chair Mr J. L. Passmore reported that he had recently been in Oamaru. He had found that there had once been a motor club in Oamaru, but that it had gradually fallen through. The popular opinion seemed to be that the club existed only to carry on the first day’s outing, and that nothing was then done till the next season. Mr Oreagh had informed him that he still held £5 belonging to the old club, and that if delegates from the Otago Club could "visit

Oamaru he would do his best to get motor men to attend a meeting to endeavour to resuscitate the club. —It was decided that arrangements should be made for a visit of delegates from the Otago Club. The President said he thought they should write to the Hon. J. G. Coates and ask for a copy of the Main Roads Bill, which it was proposed to bring before Parliament next session. Mr Coates had invited criticism of the Government’s proposals, and had stated that he would be pleased to receive suggestions. —It was decided to give effect to the chairman’s suggestion. The question of the forthcoming beach races was discussed. It was suggested that better facilities for racing could be obtained on the beach at Lower Portobello than existed at Warrington.—lt was decided that a visit should be made to the Lower Portobello beach on Saturday to examine the surface, and that permission should be asked from the Harbour Board to conduct the races if the beach was found suitable. Five new members were elected to the club, the membership of which is now about 700.