A FULL HOUSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 192, 29 July 1940, Page 5

A FULL HOUSE

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS MEET ADDRESS AND PICTURE SCREENING Members of the Auckland Automobile Association and their friends packed tlie King Street Hail on Thursdaj- evening to hear an address by Mr H. W. Bullock, vice-pre-sident of the Association, and to be treated to a display of motion pictures in natural colour by Mr R. E. Champtaloup, Touring Manager, who recently returned from a to ! ur of Britain, the Continent, Canada and the U.S,A. j The object of the meeting was to personally contact country members, said Mr Bullock, in opening j his address, and to learn by lirstliand knowledge the requirements of the district. In addition the to*ur served as an opportunity to appeal to local motorists to continue support of the Association movement during the war period. Every effort was being made to maintailn A.A. services to their full degree, and there was to be no relaxation of effort, said Mr Bullock. The Association was carrying out duties of a national nature and the whole of its organisation was keyed to the highest point of efficiency to be available to the Government in any national emergency that might arise, under Avar conditions. Loyal Support an Encouragement Members of the A.A. who joined up for active service were to have their subscriptions paid by the Association for the term of their service. abroad and they would be "permitted to nominate a dependant to whom the full services of the Association would be available in their stead. Concessions were also being made to members who entered camp under the Territorial scheme. In the case of members of the staff who had joined the colours their positions were being kept open fd! them, their military pay was being supplemented up to their A.A. salary, and their superannuation fund was being maintained. The speaker thanked members for their loyal support, which was n great encouragement and to such an extent was the value of A.A. service realised by motorists that a net increase in membership of over 2300 had been gained since the outbreak of war. The membership of the Auckland Association now exceeded more than -35,300. Damage to Sign-posts. In outlining the services of the Association the speaker said that the majority of motorists were well aware of the good work done by r the Association but he made a special appeal in regard to signposting. Wilful damage to direction and danger signals was unfortunately on the increase and lie askeu all those present to do their 1 utmost to preserve signs, report damage to the A.A", and if they observed any instances of deliberate destruction immediately report to the police. New Zealand Highways. Mr R. E. Champtaloup, Touring Manager of the Association in intro dueing the subject of his travel films overseas, highway systems and traffic control, paid a very high tri->. Bute to the Main Highways Board of Ne\v Zealand, its engineers and also local body engineers. He saidthat New Zealand highways were superior, to those of any other country he visited with an equal population or equal density of vehicular traffic. A series of interesting motion pictures depicted in highly contrasting natural colour, his investigations in regard to motoring matters in Britain, Europe and America. A film showing the magnitude of the German military road system with its dual carriageways, cloverleaf intersections, by-passes and method of traffie control was intense ly interesting and explained the rea son for the rapid movement - displayed by the German armies at the commencement of the war. Another film illustrated travel by the <'All Red Route" in Canada with remark ably line illustrations of the Canadian Pacific resorts and the '•Rockies." Camping life in California was also featured in colour. Pictures of Norway illustrated the difficult nature of the country on which the British forces were recently engaged and the very great advantage established by the Germans in occupying the main ports and air bases. British streets, highways and by. ways were screened in a striking manner, this film concluding with the reproduction of the 1939 Trooping of the Colours in London'.^