MOTOR UNION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19147, 2 November 1927, Page 7

MOTOR UNION.

——» MEETING OP EXECUTIVE. The Executive Committee of the South Island Motor Union met last night. Present: Messrs Hi 0. Harley (chairman), F. W. John-, ston, W. L. Minson, J. S. Hawkes, and P. R. Harman (secretary). Apologies were received from Messrs Carey and JSgglestone. The chairman welcomed back Mr llinson, who has been on a trip abroad. Dr. Stanley Brown (Invercargill) wrote that ho was grateful to the Union far its appreciation of anything he had done \n the interests of motorists. Tho Southland Motor-Cycle Club applied for affiliation. The request was granted. Rakaia and Waitaki Bridges. The secretary of the Railway Board wrote that it was not practicable to provide automatic warning signals on the Rakaia and Waitaki bridges. Regarding- the Waitaki bridge it was stated that only a few trains passed over it in the absence of the keeper; these were at 3 a.m. and 4.50 a.m. The chairman reported that Messrs Johnston, Hawkes, and himself had waited on Mr Chapman, Railway Traffic Manager, and discussed the matter with him. Mr Chapman's remarks wero much on the lines of the letter just read. An extract was read from a letter fpom tho Nelson Automobile Association suggesting thut passing places be provided on these bridges. Mr Hawkes said this was quite- a good suggestion and one that it was reasonable lo ask for. He moved: "That the suggestion be put before the railway authorities and that they be asked to provide these passing places." Tho motion was agreed to, and it was decided to thank the Nelson Association for its suggestion. Unlawful Use of Cars. The Minister for Justice wroto respecting the Union' 6 request for higher penalties for the unlawful use of cars that the matter would be fuither considered. The Minister remarked that in the past few weeks Magistrates had been imposing the maximum penalty and it was hoped that this would have some effect in checking tho practice of which complaint was made. The letter was received. Bowsers Open on Sundays. The Otago Motor Union asked that the South Island Union Fbould get in touch with the North Island Union with a view to getting legalised the opening of bowsers, not attached to garages, on Sundays, so that motorists may bo able, to get petrol on Sundays. Mr Johnston moved that the request be supported and said that in one instance in Christchurch where the bowser was not open on Sundays very little business was done on week days, indicating that those bowsers open on Sundays got the business during the week. Mr Hawkes said that tho bowser people in Christchurch did not want to open on Sundays. He, Jiimself, did not see why a man should be made a slave for motorists on pleasure bent. The chairman said they had to look 3t the matter in a broad light, and in the interests of the people they represented. Lights and Parking Places. The Nelson Association wrote that it was considerably surprised at the nature of the discussion at the Union's annual meeting of the Association's remit regarding lights on cars in parking places. The views expressed by some of the. members almost inferred that the suggestion to allow cars to park without lights in proper places was a new one, whereas the Association's remit was only indicating a quicker method of bringing the regulation into force. The Association considered that the Union should demand that the Minister deal with the question, either by issuing the portion of the regulations relating to it, or else by a short amending Act dealing with the matter. The Union had already approved of the subject matter, and there was therefore no seed for the merits

of it' to be discussed all over again. The committee asked for a copy of the letter forwarded by the Union to the Minister on the matter. The secretary reported that he had forwarded the information required. State-owned Vehicles. Mr A. E. Ansell, president of the Union, wrote suggesting that the executive forward to. the Minister for Public Works a letter expressing the Union's approval of the proposal to abolish exemptions from registration fees and license fees on State-owned vehicles- and vehicles owned by local or public authorities. On the motion of Mr Johnston it was decided to forward the executive's approval to the Minister. -'