MOTOR UNION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1929, Page 1

MOTOR UNION

NORTH .ISLAND CONFERENCE

AUCKLAND, August 24

Owing to the retiring president of the North Island (N.Z.) Motor Union, Mr A. J. Toogood, of Wellington, withdrawing his nomination for re-election, Mr H. C. Jones, of Auckland, was elected president for tho ensuing year at ( thc annual conference of . the organisation which was continued this morning. “I feel 1 am taking office at a critical time for motorists,” said Mr Jones in returning thanks for the honour done him. “For very many years wo have fought for better roads. After numerous conferences we wore successful in having legislation placed on the Statute Book which we thought would enable us to have good roads. We yielded to taxation which was a good deal more than was equitable in order to achieve this object. Now when we see a possibility of getting improved roads we find that through a Haw in the legislation that promises* arc' 1 being broken and motorists are likely to be deprived of tbo £200.000 grant that it was intended the Public Works Department should contribute to the highways annually. We are well organised but we will have to take very active steps to. have that amount replaced. If money for highways is going to be curtailed it will bo very unfortunate.”

Rr E. E. Porritt, of Wanganui, and Mr W. O’Callaghan, of Hawera, were elected vice-presidents.

The following were chosen for the executive committee:—Messrs G. M. White and IT.. Butcher (Auckland), L. A. Edwards and E. A. Batt (Wellington), W. Howard Booth (Wairarapn), W. G. "Walklcy <South Taranaki), F. J. .Hill (Wanganui), ’\ r . Duff H'aranaki) and J. IT. Edmondson (Hawke’s Bay).

It was decided to hold the next annual conference at Wanganui. “I believe there is a great danger in tranicars having the absolute right of the road,” said Mr A. Grayson, when the advisability of moving foi legislation to make tram cars obseive off-side rule was under dismission.

Mr R. E. Ohamptaloup said the reason tranicars were not covered by the regulations was that it was feared congestion would he caused to tranicars over a stretch of sonic 300 yards in Wellington. | It was decided to make efforts to have tranicars brought within the compass of the transport regulations in respect to the off-side, rule. A progress report was presented by Air I. Y. Wilson upon the success of the North Island Motor Union Mutual Insurance Company. Tor the fiist ten a.nd a half months of its operation the premium income after deducting returned premiums and re-insurances amounted to £12,357, to which had to he added interest on investments, making a total net income of £12,301. The net surplus after paying all losses and writing off preliminary expenses amounted to £0905. Of this sum £1942 had been placed to unearned premium reserve, leaving a net profit on the first period of operation of £1962. Claims amounted to £lBOl, or equal to 14.0 per cent, of the premium income, wliilo the ratio of working expenses to net premium income was 28.6 pel* emit. This was romarkably low. Tn future years there was every

indication that the ratio would he still further reduced. The number of cars insured was 1756. Whilst the results were exceptionally good, the

most satisfactory feature was the fact that a substantial lowering of rates had resulted in a saving of over £2300 to policy holders as compared with the amount that would have been paid by them under the associated underwriters’ tariff. The report was adopted.