VARIED ACTIVITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20070, 17 October 1939, Page 12

VARIED ACTIVITY

A.A. PATROL DUTIES MECHANICS AND FIRST AID SIGN-POSTING MAJOR JOB The impression held by many motorists that the duties of a resident Automobile Association patrol are decidedly limited, and that the patrol's post is an enviable one. was dealt with yesterday by Mr. G. V. Merton, in an address to the Gisborne Rotary Club. He provided a brief review of the activities and qualifications required of a wearer of the A.A. uniform, and enlightened many of his hearers as to the lesser-known functions attaching to his post. One qualification for appointment to tire staff of patrols, he said, was a knowledge of mechanics sufficient to satisfy the association's examiners. This knowledge was useful in advising A.A. members in transactions respecting their cars, from purchases to exchanges, and giving estimates of costs of repairs, when these were necessary. Many small mechanical jobs were done by the patrols themselves, when they were only matters of adjustment, Mr. Merton remarked, but the great value of the service was in the advice available. Insurance questions also were dealt with, and the honorary solicitors of (he association in various towns required the reports of patrols when acting t'or members in matters relating to prosecutions and claims. Constant Signposting Work Sign-posting was, of course, one of the parts of a patrol’s work which never ceased. Always, while the roads were being developed and new areas brought, under the supervision of the association, there were new needs to be met, with warnings, road indications. school instruction, and in other directions. Sign-posting went on constantly, and was carried out in connection with other work which the patrols were called upon to do. All patrols were qualified to give first aid,, and while experience had shown that there was often not much that could be done on the spot for an injured person, it was of value to know what precautions must be taken against ill-advised treatment. Mr. Merton recalled a case which occurred last season, near Bombay, on the Great South road, when he arrived at the scene of an accident barely in time to prevent brandy being given to ;i woman who had suffered concussion among other injuries. One other function of the patrol which was not. widely known was that of preserver of natural beauty-spots and public property in general. Each patrol carried a warrant from the Lands Department giving authority to prevent the lighting of fires or other causes of damage to public property. The education of children in road and traffic manners was the special job of a full-time man. but resident patrols also took part in tiiis work. Inspection of Accommodation

Frequent visits to motor-camps, hotels catering for members of the Automobile Association, and general observation ol roads and bridges also were among the duties of patrols, who must report any circumstances which were inimical to the interests of motorists. Patrols also were assigned to duty with visiting motorists, more especially in the cities, to aid them in finding addresses and camps. The “get you home’’ service was another aspect ol' the patrol’s duty, and the association had designated garages in almost every town and village which might be called upon under this service. "To keep patrols up to date in their knowledge of the motoring regulations and in the latest developments of car manufacture and repair, the Automobile Association holds a special refresher course - every year," Mr. Merlon concluded. "This has been especially important in the past few years, when development in the motor industry has been so speedy, and the drnf’ing of new legislation and regulations has tried to keep pace.”