WELLINGTON AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2594, 16 October 1915, Page 10

WELLINGTON AUTOMOBILE CLUB

ANNUAL REPORT. Tho report .to bo presented at the annual meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club next Wednesday states that the year commenced with a membership of 108, and during the year 13 resignations were accepted, chiefly owing to members leaving the district, or having gone on active sorvice. The latter, the committee suggests, should be retained on tho register as honorary members until their return. Thirty new members were elected; making tho present membership 125. The committee regrets that so many subscriptions arotstill unpaid, and hopes that membors will pay more promptly in the futuro. During tho year the-committee has dealt .with many matters of interest to motorists. As the result of efforts made by tho coimnitteo the obstructions, both at Lower and Upper Hutt, have been removed by the local authorities, which no doubt will be very much appreciated by members and motorists generally. The committee desires to record its thanks and appreciation to Mr. C. H. Izard for the legal services he rendered to the club without fee in regard to tliis matter. Tho club was represented at the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Automobile Union by .Messrs. T. young, C. M. Banks, and Dr. Prendergast Knight, and the recommendation of tha club that any tax levied on motor-cars should be' based on tires was carried after a long discussion. At the annual general meeting the committeo will reccminend that the club bo incorporated under, the Incorporated Societies Act.

In conjunction witli tho Wairarapa Automobilo Association, _ representatives from the chib accompanied Mr. E.'loogood, C.E., on a. tour of inspection with ■a-'view to ascertain whether it would ho practicable to form a new road along the coast to Western Lake Road, but the committee rwy-ets that both the report oFthe ongineer and those who accompanied him was unfavourable, and there is very little likelihood of the road over being constructed owing to the cost of the engineering difficulties. The club was invited by the Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce to send delegates to attend the conference, and at the request of the committee Mr. Wackrow, of Taumarunui, represented the club and supported the proposal. Members will be pleased to note the improvement recently made by the Hutt County Council at the top of the Paekakariki Hill, and at the request of the committee, and through the generosity of Mr.''J. 11. Smith, of Paliautanui, who generously donated a portion of his property abutting on the road, the council cut away tho banks on the side of the regraded road, which now enables cars to be turned at tho top of the hill. TII9 club was represented at a deputation, convened by the local residents, to the Minister of Public Works, advocating the construction of a bridge and tho completion of the road to Plimmerton.

In response to requests from the authorities, members lent their cars to convey wounded soldiers to and from the receptions held at tho Town Hall, and also placed their cars at the disposal of the Motor Service' Corps .for the removal of tho seriously wounded from the transports to the mi'itary hospitals. The services rendered by members, for such patriotic work were very much appreciated, and letters of thanks were received from His Worship the Mayor. The balance-sheet shows receipts during the year of £9o Is. in members' subscriptions, and an expenditure of £74 10s. Id., leaving a credit balance of ,-£2.1 2s. Id., as against the balance in hand of lis. 2d. with which the year opened.