The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1924. MOTORS AND MOTORISTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1924. MOTORS AND MOTORISTS.

Delivcrpfl every evening by a o‘c'neX in Hawera, Manaia, Nonnanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Alangatnki, Kaponga, Awatuna. Opunake, Orakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Ilurlpyville, Tatea, Waverley, Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohnngai, Mereniere, Fraser Roar], and Ararat a.

New Zealand ranks third among the world ‘s largest users of motor .vehicles in proportion to population, stated a speaker at the annual reunion of the Auckland branch of the Motor Trade Association recently. Official American statistics give the folloAving totals of cars and the numerical relationship of population to each ear in parentheses: United States, 13,464,000 (7); Canada, 554,000 (13); Noav Zealand, 44,000 (27); Australia, 109,000 (44); United Kingdom, 469.000 (74); Denmark, 42,000 (78); France* 352,00.0 (93); Argentine, 85,000 (99); Germany, 100,000 (453); Italy, 45,000 (490); India, 44,000 (6490). The figures are very interesting and leaA'e no doubt that Xoav Zealamlers are keen on motoring. A large number of cars are used for business purposes, and the. motor is a very valuable servant in NeAV Zealand, especially for people living in rural areas. In Taranaki motors have enabled people to overcome one of the handicaps which long distances entail and the comparative isolation of mainfarmers in olden days has been eliminated. To the credit of the people of the province, and South Taranaki particularly, they had foresight in years gone by and at considerable sacrifice they faced the heavy cost of laying doAvn tar surfaces on the main highAvays to proAnde for the growing requirements of motor traffic. The result is that Ave haA'e many miles of excellent roads, and year by year noAv stretches of tar-sealing are being added. Motoring over the Taranaki tar-sealed roads

0 is a pleasure, aml motorists are in debtod to the ratepayers for their sight and willingness to face the expense. They have carried out a work of great importance to the Dominion, and in no small degree have the roads assisted in the increase in production, for good roads encourage closer settlement and help the farmers to work with greater keenness and energy than if they felt that they were living under more isolated conditions. The making of good main roads throughout the Dominion has now come -to be regarded as a national undertaking, and to carry it out the Highways Board has been established. As the roads throughout the country improve there will no doubt be an increase in the number of motor vehicles in use, and the necessity for stricter control of traffic will be manifest. Many accidents occur through the folly of driving at unreasonably high speeds. The desire to travel quickly is - common to many people and up to a point there is comparatively little risk, but motorists who make racing tracks of roads built for ordinary traffic cannot be excused if disaster overtakes them. The unfortunate part is that in such cases disaster sometimes falls upon the innocent. One can only ask all motorists to remember that, however much they like fast travelling, they have a serious duty to see to it. that they do not become a menace to the community, and no doubt one of the aims of the Motor Association recently formed in South Taranaki will be to try and lessen the dangers of motor traffic. The roads should be kept, free of wandering stock, especially at night time, but motorists should also be expected to exercise their .-judgment and at all times keep under proper control the cars which they drive. The motor is an excellent servant for both work and pleasure, but it is a terrible master, and we fear that in spite of the numerous whrnings and disasters of the past there are still numbers of drivers who are so forgetful of their duty that they permit their cars to become the masters and not their servants.