MOTORIST ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1929, Page 11

MOTORIST ASSOCIATION

SOUTH TARANAKI PROGRESS ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. The South Taranaki Automobile Association held its annual meeting last night. In the absence of the'president, Mr. S. C. Tonks presided over an attendance of 30 members representing Hawera, Stratford, Eltham and Patea. In moving the adoption of the annual report and accounts (already published) the chairman apologised for the absence of the president, Mr. W. A. ©’Callaghan, who was away from New Zealand, saying that he had in his annual report referred to a great many matters in which the association had used its endeavours in the interests of motorists. “I feel” said the chairman, “that it cannot be too strongly’ emphasised that the key-note of our organisation is service to members.' We have now reached a numerical strength in membership which will enable us still further to extend our work on your behalf. At the last meeting of tho North Island Motor Union a committee was set up to go into the question of co-ordinating the present road patrol service in the North Island and further* extending it. It is hoped within the next year that there will be automobile association service officers on duty in every district in the North Island.” The provisions of the transport legislation recently before Parliament were reviewed, and the chairman continued as follows—“ Just how necessary it is for motorists to be organised is emphasised in a report of a policy speech delivered by,the Victorian Premier (Sir Wm. McPherson) on November 9, when he announced his intention if returned at the forthcoming elections to impose a petrol tax in order to meet the Victorian State deficiency of £1,324,000 at the end of the financial year. At the present time the Commonwealth tax on petrol is 3d per gallon and it is estimated that Sir William McPherson’s additional tax will raise the Victorian petrol tax by 2d per gallon. We never know when an increase of this nature may be.attempted in'New Zealand, and it is well to be organised in time. “The automobile association movement is still young in New Zealand and not yet comparable in its extent with the automobile association of England. The English Automobile Association’s annual accounts for tho year ended April 30, 1929, disclose amazing figures. T'he income of the English association for the year was £11,653 Is 7d and of this huge sum all excepting £7,699 13s 8d was spent on service to members. An interesting department of the English Automobile Association is its legal defence branch, under which heading £39,456 18s It was spent last year.”

SERVICES APPRECIATED. A good indication of the fact that subscribers appreciated the services rendered was the manner in which subscriptions had come in during the year. At Stratford 52 members had paid their dues, and at Hawera 407, a total of 459, or rather more than 6 a day. At the Hawera show on Thursday the service officer attended free of charge to 13 minor repairs to members’ cars, and members appreciated this class of service, which was extensively carried out at race meetings, shows and other gatherings where association members assembled. The year book -was undoubtedly a fine production, and had received commendation from all parts of the Dominion. The efforts of the secretary in this connection had earned the utmost appreciation. Dr. Simmons said the phenomenal progress during recent years reflected great credit on the members of the committee and on the secretary, who had worked enthusiastically. Mr. Duffill desired to know how much the production of the year book had cost. He had heard it said that it was a waste of money. The chairman: The year book cost £lO2 to produce, and there was a revenue of £IOL Messrs. Tonks and Lyons referred to the enthusiasm of .committee members, and congratulated the association upon the possession of a secretary of the calibre and ability of Mr. Walkley. The report’ and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. S. C. Tonks; vice-presi-dents, Dr. W. T. Simmons (Patea) and Mr. J. S. Lyons (Stratford); general committee, Messrs. G. J. Bayley, E. P. Cox, J. A. Duffill, L. 0. Hooker, R, H.

, Leece, J. McGhie, W. A. Spragg and Dr. [ W. M. Thomson (Hawera), Messrs. G. A. i Carter, C. Moore, N. H. Moss and S. A. . Ward (Stratford), Messrs. C. R. Honeyfield (Patea) and T. C. Crump (Eltham); general secretary, Mr. W. G. Walkley (re-elected); auditor, Mr. A. K. Fyson. Mr. Walkley thanked members for their remarks. He paid eloquent tribute to the work of committee members, without whose enthusiasm and help the success of the association could not have been realised. They were proud that for the first time their president, Mr. O’Callaghan, had been elected to the executive of the New Zealand Motor Union as a vice-president. He wished particularly to refer to Mr. Ward’s "work at Stratford in enrolling and holding members at that centre. OUTSTANDING FEES. j’ Outstanding subscripts ns were always a difficult matter, said Mr. Walkley, but he was sure a considerable amount of the subscriptions would ultimately be received, by the exercise of tact, and. in some cases the clearing of misunderstandings. *' • He had recently been appointed by.the N.I.M.U. to meet the S.I.M.U. with a view to bringing the two islands Into line in connection with highways tjmd transport matters. He was very proud of the fact that when the members' of the S.I.M.U. spoke of the South Taranaki Association they did so with awe; they could not understand why the association was so far ahead of all the South Island associations as far as the ratio of membership to car registrations was concerned, Their association had pioneered the work of inculcating “safety first” into school children by means of charts and special lessons, and he believed that motor unions would more vigorously take up this work. " .'X ." . The motor unions were working hard for the passage of a transport bill, which was. widely desired by New Zealand motorists as a remedy to a number of existing defects. ’iY \ In comparison with the work in England, and on a lesser scale by the Auckland association, service work had scarcely been touched in Taranaki. That this important matter w.'.s receiving the attention of the motor unions was Remonstrated by the work of the subcommittee. They were endeavouring to have a chain of service officers patrolling the main roads of each association. These officers would be under one control, Avi th a co-ordinating system providing for diverting them wherever necessary. »Such a system, he hoped, would soon be an established fact. Prior to the annual meeting a meet- ■ ing of members Avas held to consider the association’s new rules. Mr. J. S. Lyons, in congratulating the committee that had drafted the rules, said the association’s thanks were due to it. So satisfactorily were the rules brought down that he was sure they would meet with the unanimous approval of every member. He could assure them Stratford members were well satisfied. With the inclusion of minor amendments, the rules were unanimously adopted. -■•■/Sa