AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2941, 29 November 1916, Page 5

AUTOMOBILE CLUB

A committee meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club was held last 'week at tho office. Mr. Izard occupied thb chair, and there wero present: Messrs. Lloyd, Sherwood, Pryor, Mantoll, and' Alklridge. New members elected wero Dr. C. E. Pattie, Mr. J. Jacob, and Mr. Baden Powell. The secretary was instructed to _ again inform tho police of tho practico of vehicles appearing on tho Hutt Road at night without lights. Also to write tho council regarding tho state of the road at the corner of Murphy Street and Lambton Quay, which coraer is considered very dangerous to motorists. It was also decided to write tho council pointing out the bad state of the road on tho north side of Courteuay Place. Tho chauffeur of one of the members had recently been summoned for using the south sido of tho road, and tho question of tho being legally able to closo tho south sido was raised. It was decided to go further into this matter at a later dato. Tho bonzino proposition, whereby members are enabled to buy a supply of benzino at tho lowest possiblo rates, is now in operation, and large-numbers-of niembors i aro taking advantage of this concession, which is confined to members of tho club only. Concerning tho mutual ,insurance scheme, the sub-committee recommend that a separate company should be formed, "whereby members will be enabled to insure their cars against joss by firo anywhere within the Dominion, at a rate very considerably less than now obtainable,- it to bo a condition that an insurer in every case is a member of tho club. It will be necessary to form a fund 1 of £500 as a nucleus which could bo obtained by £5 each from. 100 members'. No claim under 5 per cent, of insured value of car is to bo made. Tho principle of the proposed scheme is that a number of roputable persons agree with each other that if ono loses his car through fire the others agree to contribute a proportion of the value of the car, according to the amount of his insurance. Thov also agree to pay their annual premiums xintil such fund is deemed sufficient to meet reasonable emergencies. AVhen this point is reached, it is open for members to agree to pay. nothing further until losses occur. It is recommended that premiums to bo given will bo £2 per cent., this bomg ; 33 1-3 below public company's rates, and -unless losses occur it is possible to reduce this amount every year, but priority of reduction will start with the guarantees or original members. With regard to this proposed scheme, it was decided to write members asking:—(l) AVhether they are agreeable to become a member of the proposed new insurance company; (2) whether they would attend a general meeting; (3)' whether they approve of the proposition.