ENTERPRISING MOTORISTS

Lake County Mail, Issue 32, 14 January 1948, Page 2

ENTERPRISING MOTORISTS

With more petrol available than in previous years, motorists have come to Queenstown, Wanaka and Cromwell in such numbers as have not been known since pre-war days—and by the look of some of the cars seen in these towns, it is not surprising to learn from garage proprietors that there have been many breakdowns en route. Perhaps the relic of them all was a 1020 model with odd-size wheels and tyres, with four spares strapped on the back, no roof, and with tents and cooking utensils hanging on everywhere.

There is nothing unusual about a car towing a caravan—but when there is a trailer attached to the caravan and behind this again a boat trailer > —then there is no telling where it will stop. This is the spectacle which “ hit ” Queenstown early last week. It appears, however, that it came within the length permitted by traffic regulations. One garage proprietor said that he was amazed to find that some people had set out on long trips with no tool kits and not even puncture outfits. He had been called 17 miles to fix a puncture and change a wheel, a job that could have been done in a matter of minutes if tools were carried by the motorist. New English and American models are more numerous, which brings hopes of even more motorists visiting our tourist centres ne’t vear.