MOTORISTS CONFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 1

MOTORISTS CONFER

NORTH ISLAND UNION MEETS REMITS DISCUSSED “There are no less than from 132,000 to 135,000 motor-cars in New Zealand, but there Is still a big field before us, and we should introduce an energetic campaign to get new members from those thousands of motorists who enjoy all the privileges without contributing toward our cause.” So said Mr. A. J. Toogood (Wellington) , president of the North Island Motor Union, at the annual conference which opened this morning. A welcome on behalf of the local association was extended by Mr. A. Grayson, president of the Auckland Association. In extending a welcome to delegates the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said such a conference assisted to improve city conditions. He complimented the Auckland Association on the system of sign-posting, which had been inaugurated and which was such, an advantage to the general public. .Telegrams embodying the following resolutions arising out of remits were forwarded to the Prime Minister, the New Zealand Counties’ Association, and the South Island Motor Union: "In view ,of the reply recently given by the Prime Minister to a deputation from the North and South Island Motor Unions, when asked if there was any possibility of Parliament interfering with moneys derived from motor taxation, this annual conference of the North Island Motor Union now in meeting places on record that any attempt to divert such tax or portion thereof for any purpose other than road construction and maintenance, as provided for by the Act, will be most strongly opposed, and a combined movement of motor-car owners would be arranged throughout the Dominion for the purpose of combating such a breach of faith. The union is of opinion that if the principle involved is permitted, the security of all funds specially created by legislation for particular purposes will be endangered.” “The annual conference of the North Island Motor Union now in meeting strenuously and emphatically protests against the attitude of the Government in refusing to make the annual grants of at least £35,000 from the Consolidated Fund, as provided by the Main Highways Act, as a definite statement of the minimum obligations of the Government to the main highways system, which obligations the Government now proposes to evade. This union, representing 25,000 motor-car owners now in meeting, pledges itself to resist such action, which can only result in placing on motorists an obligation.”