SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1935, Page 3

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION WORK.

SOUTH TARANAKI ANNUAL REPORT

A successful year’s operations, in which an increase in membership and revenue allowed the giving of further services to' members, are reviewed by the president, Mr. W. 0. Williams, in the 21st annual report to be presented to members of the Automobile Association (South Taranaki) at Hawera on November 1. The district now has the highest percentage of members to motor-cars in New Zealand.

The year just ended has been one of constant activity for the association and a most gratifying increase in membership is recorded, states the report. The automobile association movement continues to multiply and extend' the number of services available to members, and to this virile policy is undoubtedly due the continued increase in membership. When the year ended in August, 1934, the association had 1654 members, whereas at the end of August, 1935, 2096 motorists In the district were financial members of the association—an increase of 442 for the year. The “free get you home service” adopted in December, 1933, has proved popular amongst members. During the year service was given to 392 members, and 51 members travelling in the North Island received service from other associations. Since the service was inaugurated 473 members have availed themselves of it. In other words, one member in every four has received this service, which is now, by mutual arrangement between associations, available to automobile association members throughout New Zealand. Under the scheme 354 garages have been listed in the North Island alone. The association now has two permanent road patrols, and these form two of the corps of 26 road patrols operating throughout the North Island under the automobile associations. PENALTY FOR CONVERSION. Tire Minister of Justice has at last Introduced legislation increasing the penalty for the conversion of a motor vehicle. This legislation is the result of representations by the automobile associations made for eight years, in which the Government was urged to take steps to protect motorists’ property. A notable achievement during the year has been the completion of an arrangement between the association and its official insurers, the N.I.M.U. Insurance Company, to accept farmers’ trucks at private car rates. This association has always felt that, as a general rule, farmers’ trucks travel neither far nor fast, and has urged that they should be rated under a special tariff as existing rates were too high. The new policy means that, compared with the rates ruling 12 months ago, the association is able to insure farmer members’ trucks at a reduction of over 50 per cent, in premium. The N.I.M.U. Insurance Company, formed by the automobile asociations seven years ago, has had another successful year. Its assets at June 30, 1935, amounted to £124,088 Ils 4d, of which £88,570 was represented by gilt edged investments and £22,701 18s lid by cash. Profits for distribution amounting to £25,000 ' are disclosed in the balancesheet of the company, and this should be gratifying to policy holders because the company operates on purely mutual lines. Road users throughout the country will be unanimous in approving of the decision of the Government to restore £500,000 of motor taxation to the Main Highways Board. The automobile associations vigorously opposed the policy commenced in 1932 of raiding the road fund, and it is gratifying to be able to report that the representations to the Government in connection with the whole matter have not fallen dn deaf ears. Motorists remain the most heavily taxed class in the country, and the executive assures members that during the coming year no effort will be spared in urging the Government to reduce motor taxation. Much has already been done in this direction. SIGNPOSTING EXPENDITURE. During the year £227 12s 4d was spent on signposting, 151 new poles and 316 new signs being erected, while a great many other signs were reconditioned. In the last six years the association has spent £lllO 9s 3d on signposting alone. A large number of members have availed themselves during the year of the facilities periodically made available for headlight testing. Members are urged in their own interest and in the interest of other road users regularly to make sure that their headlights are properly adjusted and their brakes in good workin order.

The annual accounts of the association disclose a satisfactory financial position. In accordance with the policy of the past practically all revenue has been spent on service to members. It is worth recording that in this, the 21st year of the association’s existence, the revenue has been the greatest in the association’s history, and it is confidently anticipated that during 1935-36 revenue will be even larger. Increased revenue makes' possible further extensions of service.

Every motorist in New Zealand will have read with approval the Government’s proposals to eliminate a number of level crossings. In this district the Mokoia, Normanby and Ngaere crossings are to be replaced by over-bridges, and thus the road will be made safer for the motor vehicle owner. It is pleasing to see that the Government intends to proceed with such a policy on a planned system. One of the first matters which this association took in hand when it was resuscitated in 1921 was the elimination of level crossings, and it is gratifying to see that at last some progress is being made.