A.A.A. ACTIVITIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 124, 16 August 1927, Page 6

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES

The monthly meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association was held last Wednesday evening. The president, Dr. Lawry, welcomed the new members of the council, after which the following committees were set up for the ensuing year:—Legislation, Service, Membership, Sports, Social and Finance. During the month 98 new applications for membership were made. These were elected at the meeting. The Finance and Service Committees are considering the purchase of a new motor-car for the service department. The car at present in use has done good work in covering the country steadily for a considerable time past. A letter was received from the Wellington Automobile Club stating that at a special general meeting it was decided to go ahead with the preparation of their own road guide, and not use the Auckland Automobile Association Guide. THE BOMBAY DEVIATION A letter was received from the Main .Highways Board in answer to the recent statement by the association that they would prefer a road grade of 1 in 16 with a straight rise to grades of 1 in 20 with bad corners. The Main Highways Board have taken up the attitude that in giving evidence before the Royal Commission in 1920 motorists clearly indicated that they preferred the use of curves to excessive grades, and that the board’s policy had been along these lines. Further, the board pointed out that there were many bends on the Great South Road, and other main roads, much narrower than those on the Bombay hills. The opinion was expressed by members of the council that the board’s attitude was not satisfactory, in that great strides had been made in motor construction during the last seven years. Mr. G. Henning thought that the lay-out of the route was disgraceful, and that the bends did not conform to the requirements of the immediate future. Mr. PI. Curd pointed out that the grade of 1 in 20 involved 14 bends in one section of li miles. The attitude of the Main Highways Board was supported by Mr. M. H. Wynyard, motorists representatives on the board. Pie stated that the road would not be metalled before the end of 1928. He suggested that motorists should take the opportunity of using the clay road in the dry months, and if they then found it unsatisfactory, alterations could be made before metalling was undertaken. The council decided to write to the Main Highways Board, pointing out that possible improvements could be made in two places, and repeating the necessity for a grade of 1 in 16 instead of 1 in 20. The Pukeatua Ratepayers’ Association has asked for the support of the A.A.A. in its campaign for an increase on a £1 for £1 subsidy for the metalling of a three-mile stretch between Coatesville and Riverhead. It is pointed out that the completion of this link would open a short route from Birkenhead to Muriwai Beach. The A.A.A. is making the desired suggestion to the Main Highways Board. The proposed motor camping ground at the Old Stone Jug is to be inspected by members of the council together with representatives of the Auckland City Council. The city engineer has prepared a plan of an improvement scheme. * * * A suggestion toward remedying the congestion caused by bus traffic in busy streets was made, when it was decided to ask the City Council that places be set aside at the kerb, free from parking, where buses could pick, up passengers, which would prevent them stopping in the middle of the fairway. A complaint was lodged against tramway motormen who ignore the “offside” rule, and it was decided to suggest to the council that tram drivers be requested to co-operate with motorists in observing the rules of the road. A suggestion was received from Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the association, regarding a beautifying scheme for the Great South Road. The main idea is to develop such natural features as exist along the road, or on adjoining properties; the obscuring of ugly features, such as factories and sheds, with trees; and the planting of depressions with shrubs, and walls and banks with creepers. has been promised the scheme from the Beautifying Society, the university professor of architecture, and from the Government director of town-planning. A meeting is to be convened shortly to elect a committee to go ahead with the work. A report was received from the association’s engineer regarding the Ayr Street curvature. The engineer had also prepared a plan of the road, showing that it would be possible to cut out the two bends objected to. The letter was referred to the Roads Committee for taking up with the City Council.