THE STORY OF THE Canterbury Automobile Association

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1790, 8 November 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF THE Canterbury Automobile Association

having as yet heard any rumour as to the formation of ||»lU77|M an Automobile Club in Christchurch, and deeming it time * nat owners of cars in this city, and anyone interested in the sport of motoring, should unite together and form themselves into such a club or society, I have taken the liberty of addressing this letter to you. Would you please favour me by writing me an answer by return of post stating your willingness or otherwise of joining and supporting such a club should it be formed? I will gladly

undertake the duties of secretary until the first general meeting is called, when a permanent secretary may be elected. We should count on having at least 18 members to start with." In the above letter, addressed on July 16, 1903, to all the motor-car owners of the City of Christchurch, by Mr M. A. Jenny, is to be found the origin of the Canterbury Automobile Association. Appended to a copy of this letter in the records of the Automobile Association is the following:—"To this circular a good few gentlemen responded in a favourable way, which decided Mr Jenny to call a general meeting in the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club Rooms on Friday, September 4. The use of these rooms was kindly granted to him by the above club for that purpose." The meeting was duly held, Mr Jenny presiding, and ten others were present. It is recorded that Mr Jenny in his address said that the objects of the ciub would be to foster automobile driving as a pleasure, to guard against unnecessary restrictions on

automobile traffic, and to provide for the social intercourse of members.

A Remarkable Increase. In the discussion which ensued, it is interesting to note that, in moving that an Automobile Club be formed in Christchurch, Mr N. Oates stated that, from his knowledge of the cars which were expected to arrive shortly, there would be about 100 automobiles in this city the following summer. That was in the spring of 1903, only 10 years ago. To-day there are in this city not less than 3173 cars—a phenomenal increase. Another interesting statement was made by Mr H. J. Ranger, who, in seconding the motion, suggested that the club would be able to use its influence for the mitigation of unnecessarily harsh restrictions as to speed, at the same time repressing injudicious driving on the part of individuals. Already, in this city, there had been attempts to restrict the speed of automobiles to something like four miles an hour, while tradesmen's carts drove at from six to eight miles an hour. He would deprecate racing, and urged that motoring be kept a pleasure. Other suggestions made at the meeting were that the Government should be approached, and urged that motor tyres should be admitted free of duty. First Officers. At a meeting of the newlv-formed association, held on September 25,'1903, the following officers were elected:—President, the Hon. H. F. Wigram; vice-presidents, Dr W. Diamond, Dr B. Moorhouse, Dr Morton Anderson, Mr F. Acton Adams, Mr "1?. F. Grigg; examiner, Professor R. J. Scott; committee. Messrs A. E. Preece, P. Genn, W. War-

dell, A. Lowry, H. J. Ranger, W. Smith, and J. H. Parker; secretary, Mr M. A. Jenny; treasurer, Mr H. J. Ranger. Such were the beginnings of an organisation, which has deservedly won an honoured place in the community life of this city. Called into existence for the purpose of advancing the special interests of motorists, the Canterbury Automobile Association has, not of any set purpose, or in accordance with* any preconceived plan, but merely arising from the high ideal of citizenship of its members, developed into a beneficent organisation, which loses no opportunity of serving the public weal. The Canterbury Automobile Association is, indeed, an organisation which most fully deserves the best wishes of the Community—especially when one remembers all that it has done for brightening the lives of the little orphans and children whom an adverse fate has deprived of their parents and natural protectors; the kindly services rendered to returning soldiers, services sustained through all the terrible years of the War; and the great help given the community in the hour of its need, when the people were being laid low by the scourge of influenza. Objects of Association. \ And it must be remembered that benevolent\ actions form no part of the stated objects of the association, as may be seen from the following extract frm the rules: — Objects.—The .promotion of a social organisation'or club composed in whole or

in part of persons owning motor cars for personal or private use. To co-operate in securing rational legislation, and the formation of proper rules and regulations, governing the use of motor cars in city and country, and to protect the interests of owners and users of motor cars against unjust or unreasonable legislation, and to maintain the lawful rights and privileges of owners or users of motor cars whenever and wherever such rights and privileges are menaced. To promote and encourage in all ways the construction and maintenance of good roads and bridges, and erection of sign posts, the improvement of existing highways, and generally to maintain a social club devoted to automobilism. Useful Work. A great deal of work of a strictly utilitarian character, of course, has been done by the association in the interests of motorists. The By-laws Committee of the association has kept a strict watch on the by-laws passed by ■the various local bodies, taking steps to see i that the legislating body keeps within its statutory powers regarding the scope of its legislation; watching cases in the courts to see that motorists receive just treatment;

erecting sign-posts to guide the motorist on his way as he speeds along the roads of the province, bent on business or pleasure, and other signs at dangerous places, telling him the speed at which it is safe for him to travel. All of these things' and many others the Automobile Association docs on behalf of motorists. It directs the attention of local bodies to work .which requires to be done in order to make roads safe for traffic, in regard to the necessity for the bridging of streams. And, remembering that the gods help those who help themselves, the association does not merely confine its efforts to agitation; it goes further, and when circumstances permit it subsidises the local bodies in regard to the work to be' done. The whole province has been "sign-posted" as a result of the effort's of the association, and many roads previously negotiated only with great difficulty by motorists have been made as passable as a suburban street; Nor has the association in all of these matters pushed its own advantages regardless of the public weal. Certainly it has sought to restrain public bodies from ejbeting legislation that would be harsh to motorists, but it is constantly enjoining upon its members their duty to observe all laws in regard to the speed limit, and generally to act always in a manner regardful of the public interests. Two illustrations of subsidies Offered and given by the association in connection with attempts to secure improved road communi-

cation between the different portions of the province are the grant of £l3O to the Government for the Sumner-Lyttelton Road deviation, and the offer of £9OO as a donation towards the cost of constructing a traffic bridge over the Selwyn River. The record of utilitarian work accomplished by the Automobile Association in the interests of motorists is written in a whole series of by-laws improved, rivers and water races bridged, roads graded and formed, and nasty corners rounded off. And even this phase of the work of the Automobile Asociation is decidedly in the public interest, Motoring is no longer merely the sport of the rich. It is now an important mode of commercial transit, and, as*such, plays'a large part in the economic life of every community. A Vision of the Future. As a mode of passenger transit, the motor is coming increasingly into favour. True, Henry Ford's ideal of each family possessing its own motor car has not yet materialised, but one feels that it is coming, and the time perhaps is not far distant when the humble bicycle stand, now attached to nearly every

factory and place of business, will be replaced by the more modern garage. Probably the point will be one that will occasion much bargaining between unions and employers at Conciliation Council proceedings and in the Arbitration Court. The union's advocate, having preferred his claim that the employer must provide garage accommodation for the workmen's cars, the employers' representative will argue that, with the present high rate of ground rents, he cannot afford to provide such accommodation. Then the union advocate will indig-

nantly declaim concerning the gross materialism of employers, so cynically regardless of the convenience and comfort of their workers. Addressing his union meeting, he will say: "Gentlemen, I appeal to you. Are we not too modest in our demands? (Voices, Hear, hear I) Here we are merely asking that the employer shall provide us with the space necessary to accommodate out machines. A simple request, surely, buw should, we not rather assert that the time has come when, in the interests* of humanity, the employer should be compelle'tfctip provide every worker with a car? (Loud applause.) But, seriously, it is quite possible that the motor car, at one time the exclusive possession of the rich, widely used by the middle classes, will ere long be included as necessary to a reasonable standard of life • and comfort for the working man. Such has been the history of technical achievement in the past; such will it probably be in the future.

Practical Patriotism.

Reverting again to the excellent work that the Canterbury Automobile Association has

done in the interests "of the community, reference has already been made to the annual "Orphans' Run." About 400 children are transported every year. No denominational or other distinction is made, and the little ones are collected from every home in and around the city, wherever the authorities will permit them to join in the outing. The cars with the children in them are assembled in Cathedral Square, and every child is provided with a flag and with toys and sweets. Then away they go into the country, where the eyes of the little ones may for a few sweet hours feast on green fields, and where they may dance and sing, as happy children will, to the music of the birds and of Canterbury's rushing mountain streams. The war work done by the association is also worthy of the highest praise. From the time when the first of our heroic war-worn soldier boys came home, down to the present moment, all drafts of returning soldiers have been met at the Christchurch Railway Station by the members of the, Canterbury Automobile Association with their cars, which have generally been decorated with flowers, and in the national colours, and taken to their homes in the city and suburbs. And all of this work is done voluntarily, with no other recompense than that of the knowledge of a kindly service, kindly rendered, to those most in need, most deserving, and most entitled to the good offices of everybody in the community. Recruiting. Another patriotic work standing to the credit of the Automobile Association is that in conjunction with the C.D.C. and the l)e----[Continued over leaf.]