AUTOMOBILE MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1930, Page 15

AUTOMOBILE MATTERS

THE TARANAKI ASSOCIATION YEAR'S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED. BIG INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP. © A •übfctantial increase in membership BBd widened range of activities are recorded in the annual report of the Tafanaki Automobile Association for the year 1939. The report states:— Finance.-*—The accounts show a eurplu» of £lO4 4s 6d, which the eomxnitt** considers quite satisfactory. Ample provision has been made for all contingencies. Membership.—lt is very gratifying to apt* the continued increase in membership. At the close of last year the * membership wag 1303, and it is now 1350, which represents an increase of ever, 500 for the year. This increase is evidence of the continued confidence of motorists in the work of. the association, and also speaks well for the enthusiasm displayed by the organiser. In view of the present depression and difficult conditions which have prevailed ffdfierally during the past twelve month*, the increase is ’ particularly striking. Ak further evidence of the manner fa which motorists have' supported the various organisations formed for their benefit, the following comparative table of membership' of each-association in the North Island, in 1935 and 1930, m of considerable interest:— - 1925. 1930. Auckland Assn. 2538 15,000 Wellington A sen —t 4,525 Hawke’s Bay Assn. 598 1,501 Wairarapa Aesn. . 800 1,530 Manawatu Assn. ....».• -—-4 1,657 Wanganui Assn, ......: 263 15.20 South Taranaki Assn. 180 2,144 Taranaki Assn. 125 1,850 Total 4,504 29,727

tFigures for 1925 not available. in 1928 with a membership W 400. , v, 4 Total membership of South Island taßSOclations, 1925, 5700; 1930, 16,000. It has been suggested that a scheme (of family membership might be instituted under which the family of a member would be entitled to the privilege* of membership at a reduced rate of - subscription. This is a matter which might be taken up by the incoming committees. The following incident furnishes an example of one of the many advantage* of membership of an automobile association: One of our members, while touring in the South Island-a short time ago, came to a flooded stream ■Which had to be forded. About a dozen other motorists were in the same fix. presently one of tie Canterbury Auto-' mobile Association’s patrols arrived, and,, to our member’s surprise, and needless to Say, great satisfaction, the patrol took charge of his. car, and towed it through the flooded stream, leaving the other cars standing. On inquiry, the member was informed that assistance had been rendered to him because he displayed our association’s badge; th other unfortunate motorists wore not mettibews of any association. PATROL SERVICES. At a conference held recently at Wanganui, between representatives of the Manawatu, Wanganui, South Taranaki, and your own association, a scheme of amalgamation, as- regards road patrols, was decided upon. The idea is that when any special function is being held in any one of these associations’ territories, the service officers of the neighbouring associations will assist in patrolling the roads. Your own association’s service officer has been in attendance at all race meetings and other gatherings whore it was considered his service might be useful, and the following letter received from a visitor to one of these gatherings shows how the service is appreciated: ‘'On behalf of my daughter I wish to sincerely thank you for the useful assistance rendered to her during her trip to New Plymouth on Saturday. Three minor mishaps occurred between Inglewood dnd New Plymouth and your patrol did everything possible.” Legal Advice.—This' is another direc-, iion in which members may receive sortie*. Of course, it is not part of the association’s work to act as legal advisers to its members, nor to defend any of its members who may be prosecuted for breaches of the law, but where a question of principle is involved, and the euccessfut defending of an action on behalf of one member will act beneficially to all members, then the association is prepared to take the matter up, aS it has done on several occasions during the year. Another pointy which memwrs on tour during the holidays should bear in mind, is that the association has legal representatives in all .the principal towns in the North Island. A list of these appears at the front of this report. If a member, whilst away from his home town, desires legal advice, say, in the case of an accident, h» should immediately telegraph the facts to the secretary of the association, who, after consultation with the committee, will advise him of the •oumo of action to follow. ' Legislation—The North Island Motor Union, on which your association is ilrectly represented, keeps a very close *y* on all proposed legislation likely to affect motorists. The most important legislation enacted during last Parliamentary session was the imposition of additional petrol tax. While no one fa anxious to pay extra taxation, your committee felt that, provided a reasonable amount was levied, and provided slso that it was spent on the roads, it W** not prepared to. oppose the imposition of a moderate tax. It must bo remembered that an -association such as ours has a considerable proportion of country members, and your committee considered that it would be unfair to oppose any reasonable measure which was likely to confer a benefit on its country members, •von at the expense of a small sacrificeon the part of the town members. This question of petrol tax is one on whfeh there is a strong division of opinion, but the committee has been complimented from various quarters for th* attitude which it adopted in the matter. Whether the. farmer will, in fact, benefit from this extra impost now appears somewhat doubtful. FUNDS FOR HIGHWAYS.

Interwoven with the question of pet-, rol tax is the allocation of funds for the construction and maintenance of the highways. In the last annual report reference was made to the successful efforts which motorists, through their associations, had made in inducing the Prime Minister to withdraw his irenoeals to discontinue the free grants to the Highways Board funds, which had been made annually since the board was established. In the opinion of your committee it is a matter 'for regret that the present Government has seen Mt to reinstate those proposals, and not only to the free grant to the Highways Board but to charge interest on grants already made. In 'ntroducing his proposals the Prime “tininter stated that the extra revenue

from the petrol tax, during the next eight months of the financial year, would be £450,000, and that this money would be applied to county requirements and road-making, particularly in backblock districts. At the same time:— 1. The annual grant of £35,000 from the Consolidated Fund is to be discontinued £35,000 2. The lipad Fund is to be charged, interest at 5 per cent, on free grants made in the past; this interest being credited back to the Consolidated Fund — £l,226,000 at 5 per cent £61,000 3. The Road Fund is to. bo asked to pay a subsidy to local authorities £220,000 Total .. •: £316,000 It will be seen, therefore ,that Of this • extra sum of £450,000 only £134,000 will be available for reading. Stolen Cars.—The unauthorised conversion of cars is becoming a very serious problem, and your committee is strongly of the opinion that the penalty meted OUt to offenders is alto- • gether inadequate. A person who steals a sheep is liable to a long term of imprisonment, but a man who steals a ■ motor-car, drives it two or three hundred miles, and then either abandons it on the roadside, or runs it over a bank, receives perhaps one month’s imprisonment, or may even be granted ,probation. The North' Island Motor Union is taking this matter up strongly with the authorities, aild is endeavouring to make the penalty more fitting to the crime. In these days of radio, it is possible that something might be done to assist in the tracing of stolen cars, and even to check the practice. Your committee has on more than one occasion, when car thefts were reported to it, made arrangements with the North Taranaki Radio . Society for broadcasting a full description of the car, where and when it was stolen, and any other information.that, might assist in its being traced. In this connection the thanks of' the association are due to the Radio Society for its co-opera-tion. , MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

Safety First.—The North and South Island 'Motor Unions have decided upon a scheme of issuing safety posters to all .schools in New Zealand. The'objectof these posters is to educate the child- ‘ ren as to the proper way to use the roads. The Education Department is very kindly lending co-operation in makino- the scheme a suqpess. Sigmposting. —The work of erecting direction signs is'still being carried on, and during the year 120 signs have been erected throughout the association’s territory. This work has cost the association £147 3s Bd, which your committee believes is money well spent. In this connection the thanks of the association are due to all the local bodies in the district, fpf their willing cooperation in the erection of school and danger signs, which work has now been taken out of the association’s hands. Information to Members. —The committee sympathises with the view expressed sometimes tliat one of the chief privileges of membership appears to be the receipt of a demand for the annual subscription. The committee feels that it is due to members to keep them fully acquainted with the activities of the association, and with this end in view it has been decided to issue quarterly circulars to all members, giving a report on the work the committee is doing. Motor Regulations. —As the result of a recent conference called by the Transport Department and attended by representatives of all interested bodies, th whole of the motor regulations have .be.en revised, and it is. hoped-. that whenthis work has been completed the result' will be a set of regulations acceptable to all, and removing the anomalies which at present exist. Draft copies of the new regulations will be submitted to all associations, and members may rest assured that the amendments will be closely scrutinised before approval is given. North Island Motor Union Conference.—The half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union was held in Wellington in April last, your association being represented by the president, Mr. F.»'Amoore, and the secretary. The annual conference was held, in Wanganui, the representatives being Messrs. F. Amoore, W. C- Weston and the secretary. The following remits from the association Were dealt with:—

1. “That it is desirable that the Third Party Compulsory Insurance Act be amended to provide that where any person becomes entitled to compensation* from an insurance company, following injury in a motor accident, hospital expenses be made a direct charge on any mopey payable to the injured person.” The object of this remit was to protect hospital boards as far as possible against losses which they so frequently sustain, through victims of motor accidents leaving hospital, Collecting compensation, and failing to pay their hospital accounts. 2. “That some provision should be made to protect the interests of third parties who may be injured by an Unregistered motor vehicle.” As the law stands at present, no such protection is afforded. 3. “That it should be made compulsory for all push bicycles to have the rear portion Of the back mudguard painted white.” One of the most trying experiences that a motorist can face is to be Suddenly confronted, on an unlighted road, with a cyclist carrying no tail light. A tail light is not even.always effective, especially on a wet night, when the light is probably obscured by the cyclist’s coat. All of these remits were favourably received, and it was decided to pass them °n to the proper authorities for attention. Two other remits, moved by your delegates, one suggesting an alteration in the present system of registration, and the other proposing to alter the rule governing traffic at intersections', were rejected by the conference. • PROTECTION OF CARS. Supervision of Cars.—-Your committee has given much thought to the supervision of cars, while parked in certain specified areas. It is understood that there may be legal difficulties in the way, but the matter is well worthy of the consideration of the incoming committee. Camp Sites. —During the year the association has made further grants to the committee controlling the various camp sites throughout the district. These camping sites are very much appreciated by touring motorists, and those who are responsible for their upkeep are deserving of the highest praise for the time which they so freely give in providing facilities for their patrons. With a view to overcoming a difficulty which occasionally arises in the New Plymouth camping areas, the association and the New Plymouth Tourist League have been discussing the feasibility of instituting some system of unified control, under which a visitor seeking accommodation at one camp site in the event of such accommodation not being available, may be immediately directed to one of the other sites. In addition to the usual donations to eamp sites, the committee contributed .a sum of £l5 towards the cost of much needed improvements at the historic Koru pa. Co-operation with other bodies. —

With a view to ensuring the Closest CoOperation between the interests of town and country members, a representative of the Farmers’ Union is now associated with your committee in all its deliberations. The New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League ie also represented on the committee. Pedestrian Ti’afflc.—lt is unfortunately not an uncommon thing to read in the press of a pedestrian having been knocked down by a passing motor-car. The pedestrian’s right to the free Use of the road can never be challenged, but your committee firmly believes that if pedestrians, especially On unlighted country roads, would walk on the righthand side Of the toad, the risk of accident would bo reduced to a minimum, as they would be facing approaching traffic, and be out Of the way of overtaking vehicles. Right-hand Rule. —A debate was held recently on the question as to whether the present rule of giving way to traffic approaching from the right was satisfactory, or whether traffic on the left should have preference, or whether some other , rule altogether should apply. Mr. R. Day, chief inspector to the New Plymouth Borough Council, took the view that the present rule was unsatisfactory and unsound, and should be superseded by the left-hand rule, Mr. R, H. Quilliam, LL.B., attacked both of these rules, and advocated a regulation which would require traffic entering from a side road into a more important road to stop before entering such road. Both parties had prepared their subject matter well, and a very interesting arid instructive evening was enjoyed by the one hundred odd members who . were, present. WANDERING STOCK MENACE. The menace of wandering stock still faces the motorist, notwithstanding the determined efforts -which are being made by county' councils to check the evil. The Stock Act prohibits the driving of stock at night, with certain specified exceptions. Because of these provisions, it was thought by some people that local authority officials and others could not remove stock from the roads at night. The matter has been referred to the association’s solicitors, and in

their opinion this impression is erron- ’ eous. Although a pound-keeper- is not compelled to receive stock into the ■ ■ pound at night, yet local authority and other Officials, and property owners, may place such stock in any available enclosure, and if the pound-keeper is willing to open the pound, then any person may take steps to have the stock impounded at night-time. St. John Ambulance Brigade.—-An offer from this body to detail one of its I officers to accompany the association’s sen-ice officer on all patrol work has been gratefully accepted by the committee. Donations made during the year were as follow: Hospital Board Radio Fund 1 £2 2s, Obstetrical Society £3 3s, Ure- I 6 nui Seaside Company £l2 12s, Everett i < Road Reserve £lO 10s, Inglewood camp I site £lO ss, New Plymouth Radio So- | e ciety £3 3s, Huatoki Domain Board ’ f

£5 ss, Waitara Seaside Company £l2 12s, Fitzroy Seaside Company £2l, Belt Road camp site £l5 15s, Tongaporutu camp site £lO 10s, Koru pa £2. Total, £lOB 17s.