MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 280, 22 August 1919, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") The Counties' Conference. The Counties' Conference is to meel early in September, ami it lias been ar iwnged that the New Zealand Automobile Union shall ho heard at tin conference in conjunction with the Guo< Roads Association of New Zealand 01 matters which aro of common jnteresl fro all local authorities. The clue: matters to bo dealt with will be roads registration, and taxation. Tho unior will_ probably content, itself .by merolj outlining, its own proposals with regari to roads, as its viows and those of tin Good Roads Association aro in .harmony, and the latter association lias, in i sense, specialised on this one subject, This will effect- a saving of time and guard against duplication of effort. The union's proposals for an amendment ol the system of registration will includc certain provisions to check car stealing by making it easy to trace cars and tlieii owners, njul to so amend the law thai no car can be re-registered without the production tho original registration certificate,'which will then, become piac-tical-ly a certificate of title. It is also proposed to ask the Minister to make such amendments to existing Acts as may bo necessary in ordor to mako tampering with, or defacing of engine, car, and .magneto'numbers, an offence. This has been done in 6evoral States of America, and has proved Very ■ effective in checking car-stealing. The Lighting Question. In a conversation with the writer recently, the secretary of the New Zealand Automobile Union, Mr. W. BeaiiehampPlatts, commented on tho difficulties-sur-rounding the question of the regulation of car headlight brilliancy. ,"ln America," 6aid Mr. Beauohamp-Platts, "nearly every State has its own lighting laws, .and in ma-ny cases' tho definitions given for 'allowance beam' aro very ambiguous, while in other eases tlio regulations aro obviously based on unscientific knpwledge. In a Tecent issuo'of a- motor . journal there appeared an artiolo' which stated that this question had been taken up by tho Automobile Engineers' Association of' America, and that very highly technical reports were being prepared to enable conferences to pass a satisfactory law which would be general in its application throughout tlio whole of tho United States. These reports have been written for, and it is hoped that when they come to hand the, union will be in a position to make somo definito recommendations to tlie Government, ■ based upon qualified scientific experiments and advice,/so that the Lights, on-Vehicles Act may bo brought into line with modern requirements." In connection with- the matter of lighting, the Executive Committeo of " tho Automobile Union is proposing to hold a series of practical tests 011 one evening during the sitting, of the Counties'- Conference. Tlie delegates to tho conference will bo asked to attend for tho pur. pose of seeing for themselves the effect of diffusing lenses on the illuminating power of car lamps, the chief object being, of course, to produce 'on adequate light, devoid of glare. The Union's Finances. ( It is pleasing to learn .that, all the associations affiliated to the New Zealand Automobile Union have come its resCue fron; tho financial point of.view,.and have unanimously agreed to make such a. material increase in.their contributions as will relievo tho union of all embarrassment for-somo time to come, and onabio it to carry on without restraint tlio'work for which it was constituted. Now Ordnance Map. A new ordhanco map prepared by tho Defence Department was produced and discussed at a recent meeting of tlio executive c-ommiUeo of tho New-Zealand Automobile Union. Tho map is drawn to a scale of apiftoximately 2Jin. to ono mile, and is very fully contoured. The Defence Department's ordnance maps, which, up to tho present, 'have concerned only the Wellington and -Auckland districts, are most valuable, productions, and the union is'inftirjiß.tlip GoyerpAeiit 'fro take tlie necessary steps'tfrh'avej siini : lar maps made for the-remainder of--the Dominion.' Tho- maps aro very important, not only from -'a- defence point 'of view, but for general survey and local body purposes. Were more of them available, they would find a very ready snle among the motorists in the "districts to which tlie.v related. In reply to representations iuade by the union, the Minister of Defenco has intimated that it is the Government's intention : to proceed -with the preparation of more maps as soon as possible. Painting of Bridges. At the annual meeting of>the Zealand Automobile Union it was (lec.Jed to ask local bodies to paint the approaches to bridges a white 'colour. It was . not suggested that this should- be done immediately. but it was requested that the work should be put in hand when tho repainting of bridges .became necessary. In response to . the union's circular, n, very large number of replies have been received- expressing', agreemnt with the suggestion and undertskiru to . give immediate effect to it. 1 . Badge for Motorists. Some time ago tho New Zeal md Automobilo Union decided that' ; it should have a badge of its own, and'ihe executive committee was instructed to draw up designs for consideration by members. For various reasons tire matter remained in aboyance, but now a circular has been issued inviting the affiliated,, association's to express a definito opinion, one way or the other, as to whether they are in favour of the union having, a badge. Tho writer was shown several suggested designs, and two of them .are .certainly very handsome. They bear the New Zealand ensign in blue and red enamel, and, generally, have a very attractive appearance. ' The idea of having a uniform badge for the whole Dominion is undoubtedly a Rood one,' and should commend 'itself -to all motorists who belong to the New Zealand Union. Putting Down "Joy-Riding." ■ Car owners will be pleased to know that the Minister of Justice, in reply to representations anado by the Now Zealand Automobile Union, has stated that ho is taking steps to have the Pplice Offences Act amended in tho direction of dealing with tlio offence known as "joyriding," or the unlawful use of another person's car. Publication of Year Book. Arrangements have been made for the early publication of the New Zealand Automobile Union's Year Book. Copies of the book will be distributed 1 frw to every individual member of each affiliated association. Suggestions to W.A.C. Several motorists have expressed the opinion that it would be very convenient if tlio Wellington Automobilo Club had its name included in the telephone directory, At present, unless one knows the name of the secretary (Mr.'. 11. .T. Stolt) it. is difficult to . get into quick communication with tho officials of the club. ■■■-.'■ ' Tho suggestion has? been made, also, that members of tho Wellington Automobilo Club should, wherever possible, send in postcards to the secretary of the club giving information 011 any special or unusual points that come under their observation in any district in which they might be travelling. Anything in the nature of road roports would be cxtremolv valuable, for flicy could be issued in tho form of circulars for the information of nil members who might bo contemplating journeys to any particular district referred to in the report. The Motor-lorry. ' Nothing could liavo demonstrated, tlio possibilities of tho motor-lorry for transport nioro than the work performed by ..those vehicles in 'France during the war' period. When ; it is considered that "a largo proportion of tho chassis wcro designed for use oil good roads, tho manner in which tlioy stood up to work under active-service conditions is remarkable. Under 110 other conditions could such experience have been gained. Vehicles wen; worked usually undor the worst possiblo conditions—bad roads, heavy loads, many 'inexperienced drivers, and lack of timo for attention and repair facilities. Under such circumstances it is natural that defects showed aiid a certain number of failures occurred. At the same time much valuable information was obtainable from such defects as developed. Though' under normal condi-

tions many of these failures wouk» not have occurred, it will, no doubt, bo tho aim of designers to obviate the possibility, of similar troubles in tho future. In view of tho large demand which will arise for mechanical transport, it is therefore to be hoped that British motor manufacturers will avail themselves of the opportunities thus afforded for improvements in new designs. .French mid Americans havo had similar'opportunities. and they aro not likely to fail to profit by such experiences. It has been proved that British makers can produce motoi'-lorrios which are the equals of any on tho market, and if they show tho necessary, initiative in embodying modern principles in their new designs, tliore is no reason why they should not continue to hold a foremost place' nraonj* motor vehiclo manufacturers. During tho war motor transport, from a commercial point of view, has not progressed in this country. In fact, it has had a considerable setback, but with the advent of tho post-war vehicles tlio motor-lorry should soon take its right place as tho most efficient and ■ economical means of transport in Australasian commercial centres.

Here and There. Those motorists who liavo linen looking forward to securing one of the post-war English makes of motor-caw will probably have to exercise considerable patience ' before their ambitions in this direction, nro fulfilled. Even in England, an order placed now means delivery next year., Host of tho Me English motor concerns have been booking orders through' the war period, the result helps that'they havo enormous bookings that have to Iw supplied before present-day buyers cun bo satisfied. The position of ono • corn/pany well illustrates the state of affairs in this direction. Three months aftor the i armistice was signed, their took orders totalled flie huge sum. of JE4.000.000. Many English motorists are offering to pay big'premiums to secure early delivery from those whoso orders are well up in the waiting lists. ;• A special "speedway" has beon erected on the roof of a factory in Denver (America) for.testing auiomobilo tyres. The wheel is mounted upon the end of a long arm, which is;.pivoted at its other extremity, and caused to swing round at a high speed. The track is half a inilo long, and presents every feature-of bad aiid good roads.

It is estimated that there are 1.500,000' motor cycles wanted in the British Empire. and manufacturers in Great Britain do not anticipate,being able to overtako the demand for a long time. There has been an absolute, embargo on the importation of Amorican cyoles, but this was recently lifted slightly, and, ,until Senteiuber 1, motor-cars, motor trucks, and motor cycles equal to half the amount imported between January 1 and September'l. 1913, will'be permitted to enter the country. The number of cars 6ent from tho United States to England during 1913 was 2783,. and the number of motor cycles was 1030. Evidently, therefore, tho number of the latter which may now be imported under ii"'ense would be about 100, which will nake littlo difference one way or tho\,^!ier. Some years ago it was ger, ~ .lly thought that the electric vehicle w> soon oust the petrol-driven car from ■ (ids altogether, but so. far there been no signs that this prophecy is., ' —we true, 6ays an exchange. The eleci . vehicle hna, of course, many claims to' :.._".i'iority over the internal combustion v-~ B ve_ hide; its extreme flexibility, silence, and' ease of handling are all on a pkne that the internal combustion engine machine can never hope to reach. On the other hand, the weight of its storage'batteries and their comparatively low capacity have kept the electric vehicle in; the background. Tile De Jlartis electric battery is one of several that would appear to open a new field entirely for the electrically driven road vehicle. It is not exactly new, but is the invention'of anItalian engineer, the progress ; ' whic' has been held in check during l e grn> upheaval. Its manufacture has now I Ti taken up by a British firm of considerable standing, and if the battery reproduces on a commercial scale the wonderful results it has given in laboratory tests 'eiectrio traction should enter on a •new lease of life. Some years ago a suggestion was rnado that- sidecars with-'oovered bodies .might 'make , useful'taxis for the streets of various' British' tO'v.-ns: 1 . The. accommodation would have been, of course, for one passenger only, and the driver would havo been subjected to .-all the inclemencies of the weather. Paris is about to try the experiment,- and it is rumoured that an order for 500 motor cycles'has been placed as a beginning. The motor cycla taxi, presumably ' charging appreciably lower rates than the taxicab of ordinary typo, should be' a real convent"' dice to tiie business community of a large citv. Particularly will it appeal to the man who lias to get through a number of scattered appointments in a very limited time." . . •

Lighting-up time: To-day, 5.15 p.m. Next Friday, 5.22 p.m.