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MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

gNew Zealand Automobile Union. 4 The annual report cf tho Now Zealand Automobile Union's Executive, vo be presented to the general meeting of delegates on July 22, states that during the past year tho executive of the union Las lost no opportunity of impressing its viows regarding legislation upon the Government, or local authorities. It has .frequently had to opposo ill-considered or unjust proposals. The main questions dealt with have been taxation, registration, and by-laws. The union was asked some time ago by the then Minister of Internal Affairs to furnish a set of recommendations for a better system of motor registration, and much time and thought was given to tho matter. The recommendations have been before associations, and were debated at tho last annual meeting. Though I hey have met with very general approval, nothing- has been done, to give effect to them, ami it would seem that nothing will be done until associations, oither directly or through their respective Paif.iamentary representatives, demand definite and businesslike action. Amongst tho provisions suggested was ons designed to : facilitate the tracing and detection of stolon cars, and though this was, and is, badly needed, no steps have been taken to oheck this growing evil. It is true that tho puuishniont for conviction has been amended, but nothing has been done to make the crime more difficult of commitment, or more easily detcctud. This matter' should be emphasised in any representations the forthcoming annual meeting may make to the Government In the matter of by-laws, tho Department of Internal Affairs has loyally carried out its agreement to refer aV. motor by-laws to the union, and tJio reading and considering of those has in itself, been a big task. At first attempts woro made by the union to refer these to the association in whoso territory tho ' proposed by-laws were to operate,, but it was.found that tho system was too cumbersome and so the idea of referring them was abandoned. Tho work' was done in Wellington, and increased very greatly the labour of tho union officials. On the subject of by-laws, it is .unsatisfactory to note that in no <;a6e has any objection, lodged by this, union, been given effect to by the Minister in charge. Hoadlights.—The question of tho control and regulation of dazzling headlights has occupied the attention of tho executive during the whole of the past year, and the matter has finally been left in the hands of tho secretary to deal with in conjunction with sncli other experts as ho may find necessary to enable him to make adequate roconinieudatioiis. This matter was referred to by tho Minister of Internal Affairs on tho occasion of the deputation by this union on Juno i last. Tho Minister in discussing the matter said that he recognised that the question was a highly technical one, and he suggested that'the union might with propriety and advantage consult a physics professor upon tho issues involved. It will be remembered that this was tho course taken last year by the executive at a cost of some i!2B, which, however, was not productive of tho desired results, and moreover the cost has on more than one occasion been taken exception to by some of the associations which hold that the union 6hould incur no expense in this matter, but should await deu'loMiiente in other countries and then act uion tho results of their experience. While the . executive committee might be willing to givo' a general expression of agreement with this view it is not orio at, all characteristic of the independent spirit of the Dominion, nor is it one that wi-l enable tho union to reply adequately to 'the requests of the Government for ; technical advice upon such a sbbiect. The committee thinks that the associations comprising- the union should recognise their responsibilities to the full 'and if asked for expert evidence or advice upon any subject relating to motoring should be prepared to give it, otherwise it will not only fail in its functions; but cannot be expected to exerciso the influence which it should do. ' Danger Signals.—Notices of motion by lioth the Wellington and the Wairarapa Associations will bo submitted to tho .annual meeting regarding the establishtjnent of a uniform code cf clanger signals and warning signs throughout the Dominion. It would be more correct ' perhaps to say that the motion is to reestablish or reaffirm a.certain code of signals, aB a uniform code has already been agreed upon a few years ago, but it docs not appear to have been t i.il'ormally acted upon by the several associations. This will be seen ,in the variations in shape of sign-posts in different rarts of tho Dominion. The committee recommends that associations, not only agree upon a uniform code of. t'gns, hut that having agreed each association gives effect to them in their own territory. The executive committee recommends the adoption of the B-.A.C. system of sign-posts. . • Petrol—The position relating to petrol, benzine, and other motor fuels is becoming very acute, and must shortly .enqnge the §orious' attention of the associations and of the. union. At tho time of writing there would seem to ibe a. real danger that imports from American sources will shortly bo reduced, or discontinued altogether, and this will have a disastrous effect upon the motor industry in the Dominion.' It behoves associations, therefore, to act in unison with a.view to either making fresh arrangements with American exporters or to 6eo what can be done to promote imports from other oil field?, or to develop such local industry a? there may be in the hops of producing adequate fuel locally for their needs, and at a reasonable price. ,' General.—The prospect cf motor legislation this session has already teen announced quite definitely Ivy the Government; and it therfore behoves all classes of motorists to band together in one strong organisition to protect heir own interests. • The action of the Ccunties Conference- in demanding from the Gov crnment the imposition of a 30 per crnt. ad valorem dutv on imported tyres, tho proceeds of which is to be handed to tho counties to snend -a* I hey please, should he n, sufficient indicaf'on to all motordom (wholesalers, retailors and motor users) of tlio possibility of taxation without adequate snfwruards for the protection of motoring interest.? to which thoy will be liable if they do not at . once Join together to tesist seen a proposal as that just mentioned. Tn cololusinn, tho executive n?ks for the fullest discussion upon all _i .afters brought before tho annual meeting. Jottlngi, . . The device proscribed below has been produced to enable a motor lorry to turn witbdn its • overall length in a confined space without tho excessive amount of manoeuvring at prreont required. It consists ofian attachment to tho front of a standard tvpo lorry, comprising a kind of jack mounted on a pair of email rubbertyred wheels. To turn by use of the device, tho car is stopped, ond the speed lever put into neutral. A hand lever by tho driver's loft hand is then moved into one of the four notches in a quadrant, and this connects up the engine to the jack by means of a do;: clutoli through a worm gear, and this causes tho wheels to come to the ground. T?c front of the lorry then slowly rises until tho road wheels are quito clear of .the ground. This disengagement of- the engine is then automatically enYcted, when the driver, moves the hand lever to "left- or "right," which causes the engine to be connected up. to tho jack wheels, and these slowly rotated,- moving this lorry ' round in tlio required direction. It is not proposed at present to-manufacture it as an attachment to existing lorries, but to produce a const ruction which can bn incorporated in future models of existing designs with but little alteration. Lighting up Timo:-To-dty, 4.36 p.m. Noxt Friday, 4.41 p.m.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200709.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,325

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 2

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