MOTOR TRADERS CONFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 10

MOTOR TRADERS CONFER

TECHNICAL EDUCATION SCHEME HIGHWAYS FUND REMIT Press Association PALMERSTON X., Wednesday. At the Motor Trade Conference, which opened yesterday, it was reported that the benevolent l'und instituted in 1925 had made little progress until the present year. The credit balance of £5 last year increased to £9S. At the present rate of income, it will be some years before it will be possible to operate on the fund unless the income is substantially added to. The technical training scheme, it was stated, had made substantial progress during the year, a large amount of time and money having been spent, so that now it was beginning to give satisfactory results. Classes were in operation in Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru and Invercargill, with the prospect of one beginning in Wanganui. In all 350 boys in the motor trade were being trained, and each year a number was turned out capable of taking up important positions in the motor trade. The committee hopes in the next two years that the number will be doubled and considers that the time has arrived when it is necessary to provide a regular source of income. £7OO per annum being required. The committee recommends a subscription from each member each year to provide this. The conference carried a remit from tho Te Kuiti branch to tho effect that an emphatic protest should be forwarded to the Government against its action in withdrawing the £200,000 subsidy from the Highways Board Fund, as it was considered a direct breach of faith with the motorists, inasmuch as it would interfere with the Highways Board giving expeditious effect to its programme and was also directly opposed to the original promises made when imposing the Petrol Tax. It was decided to telegraph the remit to the meeting of delegates from local bodies and others interested in highway finance, to be held in Wellington tomorrow. It was decided that every member of the trade, with the exception of benzine and tyre sellers, should be asked to contribute 10s each per annum toward the fund for training the mechanics, contributions to be subsidised by the Government. Messrs. G. W. Tench, of Christchurch, and J. M. Ferguson, of Taranaki, were appointed vice-presidents. Tho association resolved that the Municipal Association be urged to take steps to promote a maximum degree of uniformity in the regulations for parking cars and to provide street notices, signs, etc., to eliminate embarrassment and penalties for visiting motorists. “That the Government be urged to proceed at the earliest possible moment, with the setting up of a Royal Commission to discuss the whole of the transport question as a vital national problem.” Advancing the last resolution. Mr. Hope Gibbons said a Royal Commission would bring a most satisfactory result. __________