MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1489, 7 November 1918, Page 28

MOTORING & CYCLING

Photographs of private motorists in their cars, snapshots taken while on tour, or accounts of motoring trips and other i terns of interest to carowners, wi'i be inserted in these columns if posted to "New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review,” P.O. Box 52, Auckland.

Lieutenant Hector Nicol, formerly of Featherston, has been killed in action. Deceased was a member of the Flying Corps.

Flight-Lieutenant Clarence Umbers, of Dunedin, is on a few months’ furlough. Lieutenant Umbers left New Zealand as a n.c.o. on the staff of General Godley, and after a varied experience with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force qualified for a com mission in the Royal Air Force, in which connection he has been engaged on the Salonika front.

Private W. J. Roland, who has returned to Gisborne invalided, was a member of the 9th Reinforcements. He accompanied the N.Z. Division to France, and was subsequently transferred ’to the mechanical transport service, with which he was employed for eight months on mechanical repair work. He also saw considerable service driving despatch cars and motor ambulances.

The rather disgraceful condition of the two main arterial roads leading into Wellington was mentioned by Councillor L. McKenzie at a meeting of the Wellington City Council. His remarks were supported by other councillors, and it was decided to call a conference of local bodies to see if som e effort cannot be made to improve the roads.

“I protest against the proceedings, your Worship, on the ground that the prosecution has not shown that the car is a motor car within the meaning of the Act,” said a defendant named Job Harrison, when charged before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S M., at the Magistrate’s Court, Petone, with failing to notify the registering authority of the change of ownership of a motor car. “It is no good you trying to get that on to me, for it won’t go down. You have evidently been consulting a bush lawyer, and you had better get the advice out of your head,” replied the magistrate.

Speaking from the actual experience of a recent trip he made by motor car through the Gisborne district, Mr. C. M. Luke stated at last meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that it was not to the credit of the Government that the country roads should be allowed to become in such a shocking condition. It was a wonder to him that the settlers in the backblocks put up with the neglect of their roads. Accidents were frequent on the Gisborne roads. How could they expect settlers to progress if they did not attend to the backblocks roads? What he had experienced in his cross-country trip in Gisborne had impressed on him the necessity of pushing on as far as possible with the Napier-Gisborne railway. The least that should be done for the settlers there was the proper metalling of the roads.

“The regulation that registration numbers must be affixed to the front and rear of motor cycles as well as to cars does not seem to be known as well as it should be,” remarked Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, when Louis Walter England was convicted and discharged for a breach of the regulation. William Luits was charged with driving a motor car to which the necessary registration plates were not affixed, and he was also charged with leaving the car unattended for about two hours outside the Grand Hotel. Luits said that the car was the Trentham Dominion Scholarship car and he was. not aware of the regulation. He further said that he became so interested in talking over the scholarship scheme with a visitor in the hotel that he quite forgot that he had left the car unattended. Luits was convicted and discharged for the breach of the regulations, and on the second charge was fined 10s. and costs.

At the annual general meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club the election of officers resulted as under: President, Hon. C. H. Izard, M.L.C.; vice-presidents, Dr. Prendergast Knight and Mr. C. M. Banks; committee, Messrs. H. W. Lloyd, W. Mantell, S. G. Nathan, L. Partridge, W. Pryor, C. Sherwood, J. J. Williamson; auditor, Mr. W. S. Wheeler, F.P.A.N.Z.; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. J. Stott. The following new members were elected: E. N. Cathie, F. W. Manton, A. Hamilton, E. Jackson, R. Hall, A. J. Patterson, A. Waterworth, E. W. Ackland, W. E. Patrick, H. D. Bennett, H. Brown, H. C. Hunter, R. W. Wills, Mrs. F. Davidson. Dr. Faulke’s resignation was accepted with regret. The secretary was directed to send a protest to the Hutt County Council pointing out that several bridges marked unsafe for traffic had become a public nuisance. The committee deprecates the practice of marking such bridges unsafe, as they should be put in a safe condition, especially on the main arterial roads.

A request that the Government should accede to the request of the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama for the supply of kauri timber from the State mills, to be used in the erection of hangars to accommodate new machines, was brought before the Minister of Railways by a deputation consisting of Sir Frederick Lang (Manukau), Messrs. J. S. Dickson (Parnell) and J. A. Young (Waikato). The Minister said he regretted very much that the mills were unable to supply the timber in the lengths and quantity required. The Department was having great difficulty in meeting its own needs.

Two more pupils of the Canterbury Flying School—A. C. Fraser (Cust) and W. C. Littlejohn (Nelson) —have passed their tests at Sockburn, making 163 who have passed through the school. Major Morrison and Major Leeming were the official observers.

Pillion-riding is a thing which is looked upon askance by the City Council, and a by-law has been framed to meet with such a trouble, the result being that any motor cyclist who within the city carries a passenger in any manner except in a side-car, lays himself —or herself —open to a substantial fine. This by-law is, however, not always observed, remarks the Christchurch “Press,” and a little ac-

cident which occurred on Sunday afternoon went to show that the council’s precautions are not by any means unnecessary. Two young women started out from the city, one riding a motor cycle, and the other, seated on the carrier, clinging tenaciously to her friend “at the wheel.” A long stretch of Gloucester Street was negotiated in safety, and then the girl on the back evidently began to lose her nerve, and started “wobbling” to a considerable extent. The result was that her companion in control of the machine was unable to continue on an interrupted way, and after a few spasmodic efforts at stability, the cycle, women and all, went over. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, although both women received some nasty abrasions, and each vowed to obey the strict letter of the law in future.

The woman omnibus driver has made her appearance in Sydney. The proprietors have frequently complained of the lack of adequate labour, and now, it seems, propose to utilise

able-bodied young women to collect fares. Last month the InspectorGeneral of Police, after carefully considering the matter, granted conductors’ licenses to three young women. They are to work on the BurwoodSydney motor ’buses, a suburban line. The proprietors of the line advertised for girls, and received a shoal of applications, so the gentle sex is evidently quite ready for this class of work. The Inspector-General called the girls before him when he issued the licenses, and gave them some good advice as to their conduct. He said that if they do the work satisfactorily they may open the way to the introduction of women into other branches of the great system of transport.

At a meeting of the Voluntary Motor Corps, Wellington, a letter was read from Mr. George Shirtcliffe asking if the corps would be prepared to further the work by combining and endeavouring to provide cars to take out concert parties to Trentham. The committee could not see its way clear to comply with the request, as the corps was not formed for any other purpose than meeting returned soldiers on their return to New Zealand. It was suggested that the secretary ask the Defence Department if it would be possible to enclose a printed statement with the book that is supplied to the returning

men stating that free motor cars are supplied by Voluntary Motor Corps to take them to their destinations when landing. It was also stated that there are still several vacancies in the corps.

A chaffeur to one of the highest officials at Camp Green. U.S.A., is a millionaire several times over.

Mr. Percival Barker, of Gisborne, who volunteered for the flying force, has been accepted, and goes to the Kohimarama Flying School in December.

A prize is to be offered by the Women’s Automobile Club of Australia for the best design, submitted, for a badge to be worn on a motor car.

The report presented at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Automobile Association, held in Featherston, states that the membership has increased steadily during the twelve months, after deducting those who

have ceased to be members through non-payment of their subscriptions. The total membership is now 261, being an increase of seventeen during the year. All members away from the country on active service are booked as financial. The association, thanks to the ability displayed by its solicitor (Mr. T. E. Maunsell) successfully contested the legality of the by-law of the Greytown Borough Council 'fixing the speed limit at a uniform rate of twelve miles per hour. The result should be the fixing of speed limits ranging from fifteen miles per hour, through cites and towns, to twenty-five miles per hour on main highways, as recommended by the . New Zealand Automobile Union. The election of officers resulted: —Patron, Hon. Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C.; president, Mr. Martin Elgar; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. Howard Booth, H. A. Bunny (Carterton), W. W. Benton (Featherston), and D. Smith (Masterton); treasurer, Mr. A. C. Holms; auditor, Mr. J. M. G*. McKenzie, F.1.A., N.Z.; committee, Messrs. R. W. C. Steele, A. F. Hogg, H. M. B. Trapp, F. C. Bunny (Carterton), Rev. J. G. S. Bartlett, Messrs. A. J. Toogood, S. Cundy, H. H. Stewart, C. J. Carlyon, M. H. Kendall (Featherston), W. A. Hutton, F. J. White (Greytown), K. Mcßean Stewart, and a vacancy to be filled later.

A decision hinging on the definition of the word “using,” as used in the by-laws governing motor traffic in the city, was given by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court last week. Frederick G. Alps was charged with having used a motor car which was insufficiently lighted.

The evidence showed that defendant left his car in the street, and while he was away the lights went out. The magistrate held that defendant was not “using” the car, and dismissed the charge. He expressed the opinion that a by-law should be passed to deal with such a case.

“You ought to get a 'bar to the V.C. for that, Jack,” were the words that greeted Sergeant John Whittle, V.C., at the close of a little incident at Port Melbourne (reports the “Argus”). Dr. Weigall, president of tl'.e Automobile Club, was taking four V.C. heroes, of whom Sergeant Whittle was one, through Port Melbourne in his motor car, when a young and powerful horse attached to a baker’s cart was startled by a band and bolted. It was heading straight for the crowd which had assembled along the route, and a tragedy seemed inevitable. Sergeant Whittle sprang out of the motor car, dashed at the horse’s head, grasped the reins, and, exerting all his strength, stopped the horse, and finally led it back to a place of safety. It was as he was returning to the motor car amidst the cheers of the crowd that one of his V.C. comrades told him that he had earned a bar to his V.C.

At the Palmerston North Patriotic Society’s meeting, a proposal was made by the Manawatu Motor Cycle Club to hold a motor cycle race meeting on the 22nd January, to be run on patriotic lines. The club would undertake the management of the racing, and had already got permission to hold a championship on that day. The club asked the society to find the money for prizes. It was decided to ask the club to be represented at the next meeting of the society to discuss the matter.

A conference of local bodies was held at Gisborne recently to consider the question of motor traffic control. The Mayor, Mr. W.. G*. Sherratt presided. Mr. L. B. Tullock (chairman of the Waikohu County Council) said he considered the time had arrived for uniform bylaws governing motor traffic. He then called on Mr. C. H. Bridge to speak on the matter, as he had fully gone into the question. Mr. Bridge said that although uniform control throughout the Dominion of motor traffic would be advisable, this could not be done unless the Government took some definite action in the matter. The Waikohu County desired the conference to adopt the principle that a by-law should be framed to govern motor traffic in this district. Correspondence in the matter pointed out that this district was one of the few which did not have some definite by-laws in this respect. If the conference primarily adopted the principle of the matter it would greatly assist the Government in adopting a uniform by-law for the whole of the Dominion. He moved: “That this meeting of delegates of Gisborne Borough Council, Cook and Waikohu Councils, Mangapapa, Patutahi and Te Karaka Town Boards, adopt the principle to jointly frame a by-law to control motor traffic on all the thoroughfares within the bounds of the several local bodies here named, and that each body adopt and enforce the said by-law on all the thoroughfares in the bounds of the borough.” Mr. J. R. Redstone seconded. Mr. Dean ’referred to the question of the licensing of drivers of motor cars. He quoted extracts from the New South Wales regulations, which he considered could be adopted safely in the New Zealand constitution. He supported the proposal. Mr. A. M. Lewis contended that each individual district should control its own traffic. For instance, in Wellington vehicles could travel faster than in Gisborne; therefore by-laws which applied in that city were not practicable in this town. Mr. C. H. Bridge said they could not decide at that sitting any definite by-law beyond affirming the principle of it. The motion was carried unanimously. After some further discussion a committee comprising the chairmen of the respective local bodies with a representative of the Motor Association was appointed to go into the matter and report to a further meeting.

“Aeroplanes will be out here two or three years after the war,” declared Lieutenant-Colonel Sleeman, in the course of a lecture in Gisborne on the Air Service Whilst desirous of refraining from posing as a prophet, the speaker said he was prepared to wager that in two or three years after the war there would be a, regular aerial service in New Zealand. From Gisborne he was now proceeding to Tauranga, and if only the Department were to provide him with a machine he could reach Tauranga in an hour or an hour and a half. Wellington would be reached

in a hours’ .flight. Already a firm had announced their intention of introducing a London to Paris service and had figured out the fare at £5 a head, which was actually less than the present rail and steamer fares. The lecturer went on to express the opinion that after the war one would be able to buy aeroplanes for about £6OO, just in the same way as one bought a motor car. Already Sir Joseph Ward had foreshadowed the carrying of mails by aeroplanes, and he was quite right. Newspapers would also be delivered by aeroplane. They would only want landing stages every 20 miles, where the papers would be dropped, and the machines would go on. Amongst the New Zealanders they now had hundreds of pilots, and he had not met one who had not said he was going to continue r . the “game” after the war. In a country like. New Zealand, especially in Gisborne, which was cut off from the rest of the Dominion, aeroplanes would be the solution. To get to Auckland it would be a simple matter to hop into a machine, and they would be there in no time. At the close of the war all the knowledge and experience that had been gained would be disclosed and the public would enjoy the pleasures of the air equally to the pleasures of the sea.

Motor car stealing in the United States has developed to an appaling extent. Careful checking of figures from all parts of that country show that during a period of nine months 22,750 cars were stolen in 50 of the largest cities. Of these, no trace has been found of over 8000. When it is considered that 8000 cars represents four per cent, of the cars made in America during 1917, it will be realised to what a serious extent car thieving has developed in the land

of the Stars and Stripes. Owing to recent developments in this direction, the insurance companies who insure against theft, have had to raise their rates considerably. One American Judge has threatened that any future car thieves brought before him will receive not less than 10 years’ imprisonment. Even police cars have been “lifted” in some cities.

American motor car manufacturers will keenly appreciate the approaching climax of the world’s greatest war, for peace will save the partial disruption of the American passenger motor car trade, owing to the Government’s warning that car manufacturers might have to devote all their efforts to war work after December 31.

Word from Detroit —the hub of the American car industry — states that manufacturers of passenger cars have somewhat recovered from the daze which struck them as the result of the announcement made by the War Industries Board suggesting that it may be necessary to convert all passenger car manufacturing plants into 100 per cent, war work by January 1. Although it was at first received as a serious blow to the industry, the latter’s excitement has subsided and the situation is seen with a clearer vision though still with a serious aspect.

Few motorists realise what an enormous quantity of petrol is produced in America. In May last the output was over 319 million gallons, the daily production being over 10 million gallons. Even then the consumption is such that the oil companies at the end of May only had on hand 460 million gallons.

If it is absolutely necessary for the Government to utilise these plants to 100 per cent, capacity, the manufacturers are ready to give them over regardless of the hardship it may cause the passenger car business and its distributing organisation. The decision is not regarded as an order as yet, however, and the manufacturers are waiting to see what the outcome will be.

Already 30,000 miles have been covered by the Washington aeroplane mail service between that city and Philadelphia and New York. The machines used have a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour, and carry upwards of 3001 b. of mails. Consideration is now being given to the possible operation of a daily airplane mail route between New York and Chicago, who would cut in half the time between the two greatest cities of the United States and bring the entire West, including the-Paci-fic Coast, 12 hours closer to New York and the Atlantic sea ports.