BETTER MOTORING

Evening Star, Issue 22143, 25 September 1935, Page 13

BETTER MOTORING

OTAGO ASSOCIATION'S WORK SURVEY OF BUSY YEAR MEMBERS DISCUSS MANY TOPICS A lively interest in the many topics affecting motorists was shown by members who attended the annual meeting last night of the Automobile Association (Otago). The work -of_ a busy year was surveyed by the chairmen of the various sub-committees, a particularly gratifying report being that the association was in a very sound financial position. There was a large attendance, Mr F. J. Williams being in the chair. Departing from the usual procedure, the president formally moved the adoption of the annual report and called on the chairmen to give reports of the year’s work. He ‘ expressed pleasure at the attendance, which indicated that the executive had the support and confidence of members. Mr E. W. G. H. Watts said the membership had increased by 365, 2,651 being on tho roll at the end of the year. The membership was still incommensurate with* the registration of 12,000 motor vehicles in Otago. If the members would bo sufficiently interested to endeavour to persuade others to join, the association, he was confident, would bo able to do more in tho interests of motorists generally. The . travelling motorist was provided with service outside his own province, and that should he an extra inducement for membership. Mr Watts ex 7 tended thanks to those members who had given the use of their cars for the annual orphans’ outing at Wingatui and to the Jockey Olub and the business community, for their assistance at that social gathering.

LEGISLATION ACTIVITIES. _ The legislation aspect of the association’s work loomed largely during tho 12 months’ period, said Mr E. J. Anderson. Tho regulations, legislation, and by-laws expanded month by month, consonant with the growth of motor transport, fast becoming an intricate part of their existence. The association had not yet succeeded in having abolished that law under which an injured person had no claim when the negligent motorist was killed. Pour years ago the Chief Justice had indicated that the drafting of a suitable amending Act was desirable, but, for some reason or other, the legislators had not taken any action. Both the North and South Island Motor Unions had very forcibly pressed the. need for an amendment, but the anomaly had not yet been removed. The present law which required a motoring offender to resist a charge in the court of tho city in which the offence was allegedly committed appeared to be a hardship, which could be removed by the taking of evidence on commission. There was objection to that proposal, notably from the magistrates, yet, with all respect, ho thought legislation was desirable in the interests of motorists. On formed bitumen trunk'roads the speed limit .was unrestricted. The motorist could drive at 60 miles ah hour, so long as the circumstances did not create a situation wherein the motorist was driving to the common danger. On gravel-surfaced roads the speed was restricted to 45 miles an hour. Those speeds wore fixed after consultation by the Minister of Transport and the authorities two or throe years ago, yet, strangely, the old rule requiring vehicles on the trunk roads to reduce speed to 16 miles an hour when approaching the intersection of a side road still remained. The regulation was inconsistent. There was no set rule in England and Scotland, where the position was met by a very sound obligation on the part of the coming out of the side road to exercise tho greater onus of care. Several points on traffic control in Dunedin required attention. Jay-walk-ing was a dangerous practice on which representations had been made to the local authority, hut nothing had been done so far. In the Australian cities bitter complaints about jay-walkers had been made, and steps had been taken to control them, Dunedin might have the laurels for Rugby football, hut it also had the laurels for jay-walkers. The sooner white lines were marked at intersections and pedestrians were compelled to. observe them, the better .it would be for all. In view of tho increasing city traffic the Legislation Committee was pressing for the adoption of a regulation. Another matter of local interest was the need for reducing noise to a minimum in the vicinity of the Dunedin Hospital. Unfortunately the hospital, which was a great institution, was in a noisy locality, and the least motorists could do was to keep away from it. The association had made a suggestion that a

silent zone should be created. The civic authorities entirely agreed with the suggestion, and were exploiting their powers to malko the zone effective ; in fact, a Bill was now being “fathered” in the House. Resentment had been expressed that the Eglington Valley road, a tourist road, should be a charge on the highways fund, and no doubt the South Island Motor Union would discuss the question at its meeting this week. VALUE OF ROAD SERVICE. Mr H. S. Reid said that with the North Otago Association’s adoption of the road service scheme, servicing was now available throughout the South Island to members. In the previous year the patrol had cost £520 125,9 d, and the association anticipated that'the •road service would benefit more members at a reduced expenditure. That had been proved, 115 members having been serviced at a cost of £BS Is lid, or an average cost of 14s lid. Actually more had been expended on the inauguration than on tlje actual service. Twenty-one members of other associations had been serviced, for which reimlnirsement had been received. He congratulated the motor cycle members on the high efficiency of their machines, as no claim for servicing had been made by that section. It was hoped that during the year the service would be extended to members outside their home town, He pointed out the possibility of abuse of home service, and the Unlikelihood of its adoption. , Mr G. T. Thorn said he was satisfied members would recognise on their tours of the province that the Signposting Committee had done excellent work with the limited revenue at its disposal, , . . • , The'sporting 'activities were surveyed by Mr C. H. Bingham { who said the Sports Committee realised that the younger members of the club were the motorists of to-morrow. CAMP LARGELY PATRONISED, The value of the Tahuna Park camp was stressed by Mr P. W, Curtis, whb said 1,500 visitors had been accommodated last season, the campers including many from overseas. The camp possessed a commodious and wellequipped kitchen and other conveniences. There was a possibility of the area of the’ camp being extended, and the committee proposed to carry out further improvements before next summer. : Mr John M‘Donald asked what was meant by the clause in the presidential report that “ when our accumulated funds reach £5,000 we shall be able to Institute many and greater advantages to members.” The President replied that the funds now stood at £3,297, and, when £5,000 was reached, it was proposed that the association should have rooms which would bo of advantage to all members. SOUND FINANCES, Moving the adoption of the annual report, the treasurer (Mr J. L. Passmore) said the expenditure had been reduced to a minimum. The year had ended with a surplus of £4OO, duo largely to the saving on the charge from the patrol system. The only available new source of revenue was new members, and the aim was to increase the membership to 5,000. He could assure members that the association’s financial position was very sound. The motion was seconded by Mr H. H. Henderson. The President remarked that, with the exception of £230, the association’s assets were all hard cash. Mr John M'Donakh said the position was very creditable.' “ This has been the best year the association has over experienced for subscriptions,” said the President when the motion was carried. “ There are only 287 outstanding subscriptions, a marvellous result considering our membership of 2,651.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The-following officers were elected;— President, Mr F. J. Williams; immediate past president, Mr P. W. Breen; vice-presidents, Messrs E. G. H. Watts and E. J. Anderson; treasurer, Mr J. L. Passmore; committee —Messrs A. E. Bingham, C. H. Bingham P. W. Curtis, A. O. Davies, H. 11. Henderson, W. A. Jenkins, W. J. M'lnncs, H. S. Reid (there were ID nominations for the eight vacancies); auditors, Messrs William Brown and Co. In returning thanks for his re-elec-tion, Mr Williams said that his occupancy of the presidency had been a delightful experience, due largely ,to the exceptional ability and co-operation of the executive. - Ninety-three new members were elected, . OTHER SPEAKERS. Representatives of the North Otago Association, the Aero Club, and the Chamber of Commerce conveyed congratulations to the association on its flourishing condition, the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) also adding his congratulations. The hearty -appreciation of members of Mr J. L. Passmore’s work in preparing the Year Book was expressed by Mr A. J. Allen, who said that Mr Passmore had produced the book, which was sent to many parts of the world, for the twelfth year. The book was packed with information, and each year contained new features. On his motion Mr Passmore was accorded a vote of thanks. The secretary (Mr W. F. Sutton), read a number of, letters from

other provinces endorsing the views of the members, a Southland subscriber writing that Mr Passmore had this year excelled himself.