MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 11 (Supplement)

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND NOTES. lltli Do:. 1020. In connection with the French Grand Prix motor road race next year, the Automobile Club tie France imposed most severe bench tests which the competing ears had to undergo to.comply with the conditions. .So marked was the opposition, that the club recognised it had made a mistake, and in conformity with the wishes of the motor industry lias decided to eliminate the objectionable engine bench tests. Cars to be used in this big event are to be fitted with engines of three litres piston displacement, and the car to have a minimum weight of 800 kilos empty. There is soma competition among the districts as to the venue of the race, but according to latest advices the most suitable circuit seems to be in or near Strasbourg. The organisation expenses of this event are very great, and to obtain some revenue it is suggested that a small (8-or 0 miles) circuit should be selected, which could be closed to all other traffic and a charge made to the general public for admission, the proceeds to be placed against the fund for prizes In opening in October the first afterwar motor traction exhibition at Glympia, London, Sir Eric Goddes, Minister for Transport, in pointing out that the last display was held in 1013, said that the industry was in an almost experimental stage before the \var_ and although exhibitions were not held during hostilities, the motor trade was engaged in very great and very grim reliability trials. "I do not know whether," he continued, ''had you had the stimulus of these exhibitions, your industry would have developed to a greater extent than it' did as a result of these reliability trials of war. Xow we have an industry which may have been dreamed of by those who were engaged in it twenty years ago, but certainly not by the general public. For the development of your industry you require three things. First, good roads, for bad and unsuitable roads are the worst enemies yon can have. Second, a non-interfering but prudent regulation, and the third point is wise and prudent development.." deferring to taxation for road purposes, Sir Erie said: —"Whether there has been agreement or not, there is no difference of opinion between us all th>,« a certain sum from a esntral fund

i must be found for roads. That wa&' | agreed, and the manufacturers and users? though they differed as to the method of. raising the money, were unanimous that it had to be raised, and unanimous that, in the conditions existing it should lie raised from the users of the roads. That is the sum which is estimated next year to be eight million pounds. With that income, and what the local authorities spend on roads < amounting to three or four times as much, we can see our way to what I venture to think is one of the greatest advances in the matter of roads in this country since the time of the Romans. 1 look with suspicion upon the agitation against great road commercial vehicles. Wo hear complaints against the motor eliars-a-bane traflic. I have made it my business to travel through the country and watch that traffic myself, and I have seen more discourtesy and disregard for the people on the roads from the private owner than from the great commercial vehicles."