MOTORING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20058, 15 March 1935, Page 4

MOTORING

SOUTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION I MEETING OF COMMITTEE 4o T he ,. C ° mmittee of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) met last night. Present— Messrs J. M Jenkins (chairman), W. Kidd, De L. Cameron, S. G. McClelland, F. ChittcY' J - Palliser, G. A. Bridges and A, Aitken. It was agreed that the Association be represented at the opening of the Canterbury Association’s new clubrooms, arrangements being left to the chairman. Road Deviation Proposal Writing in regard to the proposed Mam North-South Road deviation, Hinds to Winchester, the secretary of the South Island Motor Union (Mr P. R. Harman) enclosed several newspaper cuttings regarding the matter. In reference to the criticism of the action of the president (Mr F. W. Johnston) in the memorandum or report of the Geraldine Businessmen’s Association, the president desired him to state that he did not jump into the newspapers on a misunderstanding. He had a full general knowledge of the subject matter and desired those attending the meeting to be aware of his views before the meeting; hence his letter in a Christchurch newspaper the day on which the meeting was to be held. The president's only regret was that the matter, being one of national importance, neither the president of the South Canterbury Association nor Mr J. Palliser, a vicepresident of the Union, who had been invited to attend the meeting, notified the Union of the movement so that if possible the executive might have been officially represented. The matter would be discussed at the half-yearly meeting of the Union to be held at Oamaru on March 28. The chairman said that if the Geraldine proposal was economically sound it was the Association’s duty to support it. It was necessary, however, before the Association decided anything, to have all the facts before it. It was decided that the delegates to the South Island Motor Union be a committee to discuss the matter. Mr McClelland said that the Association would have to take some action. It should not take the criticism lying down. Patrol Officer’s Report The patrol officer (Mr F. Owers) reported that during the month he had covered 846 miles and had given any services necessary. He visited Tekapo on sale day and serviced five cars. He considered that the Association should arrange for a series of emergency telephones in connection with its roadside stations and a distinctive board erected to denote the telephones. It was agreed to refer the matter of telephones to the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union, the opinion being that the scheme would not be feasible in the back country unless the Post and Telegraph Department allowed private telephone subscribers to make their telephones available. Five new members were elected.

The Timaru Borough Council wrote stating that it had decided to permit, at the discretion of the traffic insoector, the parking of cars in Stafford Street overlooking Caroline Bay during concert programmes only.

Advice was received from the Automobile Association (Marlborough) stating that the road from Blenheim to the West Coast was in good ojspr. and all streams and rivers were bridged. The ascent to Tophouse from Blenheim was gradual and comfortable travelling time from Blenheim to Murchison was three to three and a half hours.