NO PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22043, 16 August 1941, Page 6

NO PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

Southland Plea Not Supported South Island Motor Union Decision (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 14. The South Island Motor Union refused at a meeting to-night to support a request from the Automobile Association (Southland) that Invercargill should be given preferential treatment in the application of the headlight restrictions. Members contended that the problem was domestic and that Southland motorists, had' they been represented at the original conference at which the restrictions were discussed, would have realised that the restrictions were not as serious as those at first proposed. The letter from the automobile Association (Southland) to the Union said: "First, as Invercraglil is six miles from the sea and is not visible from the sea the Association considers that the regulations requiring one headlight only are unnecessary in this locality; second the use of one dipped headlight only creates Increased danger to traffic particularly to cyclists and pedestrians which is unwarranted in view of Invercargill not being visible from the sea; third, if motorists were required to use both headlights dipped this would definitely eliminate sky glow from headlights without endangering traffic; fourth, we ask that Invercargill be excluded from the headlight restricted area and if necessary provision be made by regulation for driving with both headlights dipped.” "Motorists Treated Generously” The chairman, Mr W. R. Carey, said he knew the position as it affected the Army and Navy and he thought motorists had been treated generously. Mr J. S. Hawkes: After all it is an emergency precaution. Why should we worry about such details? We much do our part. Mr P. W. Breen: We must remember that they are a good deal worse off in Russia, for example, than we are, we should not complain. In any case, Mr Breen said, the assistant lighting controller had been to Southland and any complaints could have been considered then. Mr Carey: Will someone move that we consider that this Southland problem appears to be domestic and that we have no jurisdiction? Members agreed unanimously with that attitude, it being also agreed to point out to he Southland Association that had the Association been represented at the original conference at which restrictions had been discussed it would have been obvious that motorists could have been, "a good deal worse off.’’