AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 23 June 1915, Page 7

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

The Stratford Automobile Association held a meeting at the A. and P.

office/ yesterday afternoon. There was a fair attendance, and several new members were elected. The member for the district, Mr J. B. Hine, was elected Patron. As the annual subscription has been

fixed at the low fee of half a guinea, it is anticipated that a large number of members will join the Association. Amongst other business, the mem-

bers present at the meeting discussed the toll-gate question. The chairman (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) who was also elected President of the Association, gave a brief resume of the proceedings at the toll-gate Commission recently hold in Stratford, and in the course of his remarks, stated that it was his firm belief, if the 10,000 cars in the Dominion were taxed on tyres,

at an average tax of £2 per car, thus 'producing annually £20,000, this sum would provide interest and sinking fund on a loan of £400,000 to he spent on the roads in the North and Suth Islands, and would provide the j best solution of the roads upkeep difficulty. This method would at least be the most equitable way of dealing with I the contribution to be derived from | motorists for the wear and tear of motor traffic on the roads. With the increase of motor oar users, the annual revenue to be derived from this source would increase considerably. Mr Kirkwood, emphasised the point that the reading question, as affected by motor traffic, was not confined to Taranaki alone: the trouble cropped up throughout the Dominion, and consequently should be dealt with on a broad basis.

Messrs A. W. Reid and W. J. Newton, together with other members present, were entirely in accord with the President’s views, and expressed strong opinions against the toll-gate system.

It was decided that in the event of the Government giving favourable consideration to the installation of a tollgate at Waipuku, to seek the joint assistance of other Automobile Associations, in further strenuously opposing the erection of the gate. A tele-

graphic message was received from an intending member, apologising, for absence, and expressing views opposed to the toll-gate. After dealing with routine matters the meeting closed. Anyone wishing to become members of the Association should communicate with the lion, secretary, Mr W, A. Hewitt.