MOTORING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 962, 12 March 1917, Page 3

MOTORING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. . FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. March Til—Beach Races at Brighton, April (i—P.M.C. Run io Kaikoura. April 7 and o—Two Day Motor Carnival at Napier. April 28—P.M.C. Side Car Trial. The members of the Canterbury Automobile Association responded well to the advertisement asking them to provide motor-cars for the use of the soldiers who returned on Thursday, by a hospital ship. After conveying the soldiers from the Railway Station to the Alexandra Hall, they took them for a lengthy drive during the afternoon. Motorists have done much for patriotic purposes, both in the above direction and in the way of raising money for patriotic funds, as witness the handsome result of the recent Christchurch Carnival.

"Carburettor," in the DAuedin "Star," has the following to say in reference to the circular which the Makenzie County Council is distributing all over the country, and which is apparently being hailed with delight by the various local bodies: " It seems the fashion nowadays for borough and county councils to send out circular letters to the rest of the councils throughout the Dominion. The latest, one comes from the Mackenzie County Council, and is of special interest to motorists. The suggestion is •that a 10 per cent, tax be put upon imported tyres, the money collected to be allotted to the various councils for expending on the roads. Now, this idea seems very simple and easily worked. But, in the first place, with the deplorable roads that, many local bodies provide at the present time, tyre upkeep is very high already, and a 10 per cent, tax, plus the seller's profit on the tax, wili mean an rncreaae of about 12 per cent, at least for tyres. When tyres are rising in price, and arc likely to be dearer yet, it seems, to say the least of it, a most inopportune time for agitating for still dearer tyres. If the Mackenzie County Council could suggest a 10 per cent, reduction in the cost of living it would be more to the point. Further, why should a rural body seek to obtain more money from motorists towards the upkeep of their roads, and not at the same time make provision for the taxation of other vehicles. What of the traction engine that goes through a bridge or a culvert occasionally, and holds up and inconveniences, other traffic for days? What about all manner of horse vehicles? Or is this another instance of the all-too-common invidious distinction between motor and non-motor traffic? Again, the fact that bad roads would moan more taxes must weigh with some of the. impecunious local bodies, and still worse roads might result. One patch of unblinded metal may do £IOO worth of damage to motor tyres before it is settled down; but as every such patch would represent £lO towards the maintenance of the roads, I am afraid that they would "multiply exceedingly." Not a few club members have felt for some time that some local bodies have been "itching" to got their hands on a good solid portion of the tyre tax; but if we have to pay it we shall leave no stone unturned in seeing to it that, the Government, and not the local bodies, shall use the money- At Home, the money received in taxes from motorists is expended—two-thirds, I understand—on the main arterial roads, the remainder on what are called secondary roads; while roads rarely if ever used by motor vehicles get none of the money expended upon them. May it be so here! After the war, I suggest: (1) That a tax be imposed upon rubber tyres of all descriptions; (2) that the tax does not exceed 5 per cent.; (3) that an equivalent tax be imposed upon all other vehicles: (4) that the Government take over all the main arterial roads and, expend the taxes upon these roads. Were it not for the fact that I see no other method of taxing motorists so equitable I would not forsake my Freetrade principles to advocate a tax on imported tyres, and only do so by insisting also on a similar tax on locally-manufactured tyres."

A broken steering gear got a ear into very serious trouble on the Riccarto'i Road one day last week. The car swerved sharply into the side channel, bending the front axle. The front of the car was also badly damaged. The car was eventually got into a garage by mounting the front on a small trolley, and towing it behind another car.

! There was a meeting of the Motor Committee of the Pioneer Club last Monday night, when a letter was received from the Automobile and Cycling Union, England, asking the club to affiliate with it. The letter pointed out the advantage of such a course. A sub-committee was appointed to peruse the rules and report to the next committee meeting. It was decided to'have club championships on March :'. I on the New Brighton beach. The events will be five-mile straight races for "5" e.c, 500 e.c, 70 e.c, ami 1000 c.e. classes of machines. As there wiil be no turns or corners in these events, some good times should bo put up. It was further decided to hold a side-ear trial on April 28.. The course f.jr this event has not. yet been decided upon, but it will probably be the one used in the (dub's recent, single geared trial. It was suggested at Monday's meeting of the Pioneer Club that a small race meeting should be held on one of the country racecourses about Christchurch on some forthcoming public holiday, such as Labour Day. There are any amount of tracks in the country every bit as suitable for racing as Canterbury Park, and there is no doubt that such a fixture would be a great success. The matter will be brought up again at a future date. According to the latest issue of "Wheeling" there arc about 120 registering authorities in New Zealand under the Motor Regulations Act, 1908. It is not so very long back that a sensation was provided throughout, the motoring world by the late Percy Lambert, when he negotiated 10') miles 1470 yards in 60min on a "Talbot" on the Brookiands Track, England. Now this! wonderful speed is exceeded in coinpetition with a number of contestants on the track. When J. ALtken, on a French-built " Peugeot," recently, won the "Ha'ekness Trophy" on the Sheepshead Track, New York, he covered 100 miles in 56min 37sec, equal to 105.9 miles in the hour.,' The. intermediate times afford a fairXulea of the remarkable speed maintained throughout the contest: —The first 10 miles took smin 39sec; 20 miles, llmin ssec; 30; miles, lGmin 28« ec; 40 miles, 21min 52sec; 50 miles, 27min 22sec (equal to 109 A miles per hour); 60 miles, 33min 49see; 70 miles, 39niin 33 sec; 80 miles, 45 minutes 16sec; and 90 miles in 50min 54sec. Had Aitken been pushed towards the latter end of the race he would certainly have beaten J. Cha-s----sagnc's world 's hour record of 107 miles 1672 yards, which he only missed by the narrow margin of 74see.