MOTOR AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 25361, 13 August 1935, Page 9

MOTOR AFFAIRS

LOCAL ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE MEETING At the monthly meeting of the general committee of the Automobile Association (Southland) last evening the president (Mr D. J. Wesney) presided over Messrs M. M. Macdonald, J. R. Haigh, A. E. Wish, A. J. Campbell, G. Tapper, S. K. Smith, W. A. Stout, W. R. J. Smythe, N. J. Dolamore, A. E. Lea, P. A. Pearce, J. D. Campbell, J. Pickard and Dr Stanley Brown. A letter was received from the Wellington Association regarding a “Safety First” campaign being instituted in that city. A national move in this direction was suggested. The letter was referred to the Road Traffic Committee for consideration and report. , Historic Site. , Mr W. N. Dunnage, of Mataura, secretary of the Tuturau Maori Raid Centenary Committee, wrote stating that steps were being taken to have set aside as a scenic reserve an area of some 40 acres close to the junction of the Tuturau-Mataura-Wyndham roads, about two miles from Mataura, to serve as a permanent reminder of the historic last fight between .North and South Island Maoris which took place at Tuturau in December, 1836. A donation towards the improvement of the area was requested, and it was stated that Dominion-wide interest was being taken in the effort. The letter was referred to the Camp and Road Traffic Committee for consideration.

The clerk of the Southland County Council (Mr H. C. Gimblett) advised that the association’s letter complaining that flooding was taking place on two side roads between Bay Road and West Plains road was considered by the council at its last meeting and it was decided that the matter be referred to the member for the riding and the engineer for report. The Town Clerk (Mr W. F. Sturman) wrote stating that the signs indicating speed limits on the road between the Estuary bridge and Oreti Beach would be erected in due course. The Southland League advised that at a recent meeting of the executive reference was made to a report that a petition was being circulated asking the Government to reverse the decision of the State Forest Service, which was said to have refused to grant sawmilling rights in the bush at Piano Flat. “The general opinion appears to be that it would be a deplorable happening for this well-known beauty spot to be interfered with in this way,” stated the letter. The opinion of the Automobile Association was requested. It was decided to reply advising that the league could rely on the co-oper-ation of the Automobile Association in any representations that were made. Eglintcn Valley Facilities.

Advice that he proposed to establish four conveniences and four fireplaces at Monkey Creek (Eglinton _ Valley) was contained in a letter received from Mr B. C. A. McCabe, Commissioner of Crown Lands. Three of each would be new additions, but one of each could be shifted on from Cascade. “This department will provide the necessary conveniences and I desire to inquire if your association will repeat its generous action by the gift of a further three fireplaces and also a little galvanized iron,” the letter added. The chairman said that last year the association discussed the matter with Mr McCabe and now the department had resolved to extend the improvements then decided upon and carried out with the help of the association. It was resolved to grant assistance to the project. Mr P. Harvey, secretap, of the South Island Motor Union, advised that a conference between the Main Highways Board, the Geraldine County Council and the Geraldine Borough Council would be held at Geraldine on August 20. The views of the association were asked as to the desirability of the union having more than one representative at the conference so as to express the views of those living in the more distant parts. The president was deputed to represent. the association at the conference.

Evidence on Traffic Breaches.

On the subject of evidence on commission in cases of traffic breaches, a letter from the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe), received by the South Island Motor Union, stated: “This matter is at present receiving consideration, and I may say that an inquiry was recently addressed to the whole of the magistrates throughout the Dominion and they were practically unanimous as to the unwisdom of making a departure from the established rules of taking evidence. It has to be borne in mind that the breaches referred to almost invariably involve matters hazarding the safety of the road, and in view of the enormously increasing number of traffic accidents in recent years, it appears to be rather inopportune to introduce legislation to ease the responsibilities of those who deliberately flout the law.” The chairman said they would probably have to receive the letter in the meantime. The Otago Association had been making representations without much success, but the matter would again be taken up at the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union. The letter was received. Sixty-eight new members were elected. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Haigh that the association support the Mataura Borough Council in its efforts to have a wig-wag signal erected on the river side of the Mataura railway crossing. The discussion arose from a report of the Road Traffic and Camp Committee presented by Mr Pickard. It was resolved to have erected a night sign at the entrance to the association’s camping ground at Invercar--BilL ___