MOTOR INTERESTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21205, 30 August 1940, Page 9

MOTOR INTERESTS

NORTH ISLAND UNION YEAR’S ACTIVITY REVIEWED OFFER OF WAR ASSISTANCE (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Thursday The 27th annual report of the North Island (N.Z.) Motor Union Inc. was presented at the conference of delegates, which was continued in Auckland this morning. In the absence through indisposition of Dr E. E. Porritt the repost was presented by the vice-presidents, Messrs J. H. Edmundson and A. Grayson. Prior to the outbreak of war, stated the report, the motor unions assured the Government of their willingness to place at its disposal, if required for war purposes, the entire organisation, including the motor transport and services controlled by the Automobile Associations. This was acknowledged with full appreciation by the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, then ActingPrime Minister, but so far circumstances had not been such as to cause a demand for the fulfilment of the offer. The associations, nevertheless, had been able to help in other ways. In many districts where plans had been prepared or were in the course of preparation under the Emergency Precautions Scheme, association officers had been appointed either to be Controllers of Transport, or to occupy some other position of importance in the scheme. Representatives of the Automobile Associations were also giving valuable service by helping the Oil Fuel Control Committees administer the petrol rationing regulations. Gift of Ambulances The report showed that the Automobile Associations were helping the country’s war effort in a material way by the gift of two motor ambulances to the forces. These would be known as “ New Zealand A.A. Ambulances.” One of the first acts of the Government following the outbreak of war was to restrict sales of petrol. The private car-owner had suffered most in this respect, but the very serious effect on business generally and the motor trade in particular, soon forced a relaxation. The associations had hoped that the Minister of Transport would carry out the suggested scheme of saving petrol voluntarily. However, while negotiations were still in progress the Acting-Minister of Supply announced that a reduction in the rations was to be made. The associations had lodged an ineffectual protest. A conference was called by the Minister of Labour to arrange for a limitation of petrol station hours owing to the rationing and the increase in wages for employees. A scheme was decided on by which petrol stations were closed earlier in the day and on Sundays, but facilities were left available for one station in each centre to remain open at such times to supply the travelling public. Road Safety Instruction As in previous years the system of teaching road safety in schools was continued. Encouraged by the results of this instruction, the Automobile Association (Auckland) used motion picture films in conjunction with the lectures and demonstrations given by patrols. The Transport Department, in its campaign of adult education in road safety, concentrated on posters and screen slides. Some of these were rather offensive to various people, and the associations felt that the more macabre type of advertising was unsuitable for New Zealand audiences. Though pedestrian crossings had now been in use in most centres for several years, the general public still seemed disinclined to use them, or else did not know the correct method. Regulations had recently been gazetted making it an offence to use a motor horn in built-up areas unless in an emergency between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. This, the union hoped, would obviate much of the indiscriminate and needless blowing of motor horns at night. Roadside Beautification The policy of the Motor Union for many years had been to oppose the use of roadside advertising hoardings. 4 In this connection a recommendation was sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs and to the Main Highways Board, urging them to adopt a well-planned policy supervised by some qualified person. It was felt that in the past the beautification work done by planting trees had been wasted when the roads were re-aligned. The work of making the roadside more beautiful cost comparatively little considering the important aesthetic effect it had on road users, so that there could be little objection to the expenditure in wartime.