AUTOMOBILISTS MEET

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1930, Page 9

AUTOMOBILISTS MEET

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP. ' NEW . SERVICES FOR MOTORISTS. A meeting of the committee of the Taranaki Automobile.. Association was held last night. Those present were Messrs. F. H. Blundell (chairman), R. Day, W. Morris,. F. Dodunski, W. C. Weston, F. Amoore, A. S. Allen, R. J. Pentecost ( A. J. Perrott and F. W. Sandford. The chairman extended welcome to Mr.- Allen, a new member of the executive. A letter of appreciation of their services is to be sent to the retiring members of the executive.

Membership of wives and adult members of motorists” families belonging to the association -at a reduced fee was suggested. Mr. Weston commended the suggestion. He thought such a scheme would be. excellent for its moral effect. It was pointed out also by Mr. Allen that the scheme would greatly facilitate the granting of hotel concessions and would increase the membership and interest in the association. The suggestion was' referred to the executive for investigation. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce forwarded a copy of- a letter written to the Main Highways Board to inquire whether the board had under consideration the question of widening certain sections of the present Te Kuiti-New Plymouth main highway, especially the portions in the Uruti Valley and between Mahoenui and Te Kuiti. It was noted that , a certain amount of widening had been done on the Uruti Valley section, but it was considered that the existing width of the road was unable to cope safely with the volume of. traffic passing over the highway. The council of the chamber' had noted with satisfaction the improvement in the surface of this road, but it was considered that the road, in view of the .increasing volume of traffic, urgently demanded widening and straightening in the abovenamed sections. It had been suggested in soiiie quarters the work had been purposely deferred by the board because deviations were in prospect which would cut out some of these sections. The council asked whether such deviations were proposed, or if not, whether the board could undertake further work on the highway at an early date. The association decided to support the chamber in its representations. KORU PA IMPROVEMENT. A statement of accounts showing the expenditure on Koru Ph by the Department of Lands and Survey was forwarded by the department. A very great improvement had been effected by means of the funds donated by the association, stated the letter. Mr. Day said excellent work had been done for the money expended, and other members concurred. ; . . , > A complaint that work- had been -stopped on the Tongaporutu-Mangaroa Road was made by Mr. N. B. Collins, who requested the association’s, assistance in having the work recommenced. If the road were left as it was' it would be impassable for cars, the writer claimed.;'Not much was needed to complete the work.

The matter had already been before the Chamber of Commerce, which had it in hand, stated the secretary. Mr. Weston said he had. been informed that this road was one of the few remaining roads oh which unemployed men could be placed on earthwork.

The association decided to write to the Public Works Department and the Hon. S. G. Smith. -'•••'

Mr. Allen was appointed to represent the association upon the New Plymouth Tourist Expansion League. Mr. Weston asked Mr. Day if it would be possible to use Robe Street as a parking /place for cars at night. The borough inspector favoured Silver Street, and was prepared to recommend it to the Borough Council. ‘ •

Extra service for automobilists on Christmas race days is to be arranged for by the association. It was decided to place a' man at the racecourse, one on the coast road to Opunake, one on the main south road and one on the road to Waitara. Arrangements will also be made for the service of one man on the- day of the New Year beach picnic at Ngamotu and the day of the Stratford races. The patrol men are to be asked to furnish reports- of their activities. - t No objection was made by the Inglewood County Council to the proposed erection of a light at, the Rugby Road crossing if the association defrayed all costs; A sub-committee was appointed to confer with the county council in the matter, which was considered of importance ; to the safety of motorists. FENCES ON THE ROADWAY. Mr. Dodunski complained that farmers on-Egmont and Upland Roads were putting their fences out in front of their boundaries as far as the water, tables; Grave danger was caused to motorists if they met cattle, it was stated. ■ The inspection of the"roads mentioned was left in the hands of the executive. The Auckland association had engaged a solicitor at an annual retainer and a fixed fee of 10s. 6d. for each case to give free legal advice to members in by-law cases, reported the secretary. Three hundred and eighty-eight cases had been defended during the year? All eases were not defended, but the solicitor appeared in each. He suggested the scheme was worthy of consideration with a view to increasing the membership. The matter was left to the executive to investigate. The broadcast by station 2YB ,of Christmas greetings and information about the camp sites was suggested. Mr. Allen and the secretary were appointed to draw up suitable matter for the broadcast.

At a meeting of the west coast associations recently it had been arranged that each association officer should give service to motorists irrespective of membership. The form of direction sign used by the South Taranaki association is to be adopted and all posts are tc be painted white. The existing executive, with the addition of Mr. Amoore, was re-appointed. The following new members were elected: —W. Hay ter, New Plymouth, Blanch R. Luck, Waitara, Mrs. Helen McGinty, New Plymouth, S. J. Olson, Egmont Village, E. Stockman, Rahotu, R. H. Julian, Okato, May Markett, New Plymouth, Mrs. Eva Millman, New Plymouth, C. F. Mundt, Kaimiro, Walter Graham, New Plymouth.