MOTOR AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 25308, 11 June 1935, Page 8

MOTOR AFFAIRS

LOCAL ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING OF COMMITTEE SIGN-POSTING WORK The monthly meeting of the general committee of the Automobile Association (Southland) was held last evening. There were present: Messrs D. J. Wesney (president, in the chair), F. G. O’Beirne, M. M. Macdonald, A. E. Wish, N. J. Dolamore, W. R. J. Smythe, G. Tapper, J. Pickard, P. A. Pearce, A. J. Campbell, J. D. Gilmore and Dr Stanley Brown. Thirty-seven new members were elected, making a total membership of 2001. Mr James Dyet (West Plains) wrote thanking the association for the prompt manner in which his complaint regarding gorse on the corner of the North road opposite the Catholic Church at Waikiwi had been attended to. The Southland County Council had been approached by several people, but without result, and the association was deserving of every support for the manner in which it dealt with difficulties of that kind. The chairman remarked that the letter was a testimonial to the work of the association. Meeting Unlikely. Advice was received from the South Island Motor Union that as there were no remits for the quarterly meeting in June it was unlikely that it would be held. Mr A. J. Heath (Lumsden) wrote as follows: “I have been asked by the Lumsden Progressive League to convey to your association its appreciation of the prompt manner in which the sign-posting of the Lumsden-Kingston road was carried out. The approaches to the bridge over the Oreti have also been completed and are a big improvement. Trucks at Clyde Street Mr O’Beirne referred to the difficulty experienced by motorists in sighting rakes of trucks shunting over' the Clyde street crossing. He said it was particularly difficult for cars coming towards Dee street. A floodlight might meet the case. The chairman said a suggestion had been made that a white band should be painted round the trucks. Mr Wish said the Railway Department would reply to any statement by saying that a wig-wag signal was installed at the crossing. Members said the signal was placed too far over on the side of the road. It was decided to refer the matter to the Road Traffic and Camp Committee. Sign-posting Schemes. In the course of his monthly report the secretary (Mr J, S. Dick) stated: “In my experience of Automobile Association affairs I am quite convinced that the most effective advertisement for the retention of members and the obtaining of new members is good* sign-posting. The new type of ‘arm’ direction sign has met with general favour and can be regarded as a distinct improvement over the old type of sign. In travelling around the district at various times during the past few months I have noticed' many comers where signs require renewing immediately or will have to be renewed within the next year or so. If we follow along the lines of our present system we shall, in a short time, have a very patchwork system of signs throughout the district, for at present we just pick on odd corners as they are complained of and renew the signs, whereas a little further along the road we see old partly obliterated signs. We have a good credit balance now and to my mind there is no more effective method of expenditure to bring good result?. I recommend, therefore, that we take the whole district ‘as a face and replace all signs with the new type of signs. This could be done by dividing the district into areas and doing one area at a time, or we could do it by following routes, completing the main routes first.” The chairman said the matter should be referred to the Road Signs Committee with the idea of investigating the cost of placing new signs on the Inver-cargill-Pukerau road, joining up with Otago territory, and the cost of the whole scheme could be ascertained. Many signs at present did not require any attention.

Mr Wish said that many of the new and old signs presented a patch-work appearance. He thought the secretary’s suggestion an excellent one. Dr Brown said the job would be costly. In nine years the association had spent £lOOO on sign-posting. Mr Wish said that fewer signs would be required with the newer type of sign. Dr Brown replied that the posts would have to be paid for now, which was not the case previously. Mr Wish said he thought the cost still would be lower. He could think of roads on which the number of signs could be reduced from nine to three with the new signs.