MOTOR INTERESTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21245, 16 October 1940, Page 9

MOTOR INTERESTS

ASSOCIATION MEETS EFFECT OF PETROL RATION COMBINED MOVE SUPPORTED “Strength in adversity” has been the slogan of the Hamilton Automobile Association this year and, despite war conditions and the restrictions of petrol, the chairman of the Advisory Committee, Mr E. R. Roskruge, reported an increase in membership at the annual meeting held last night. During the year engineering instructional classes for women, to meet the demands of the national emergency, were conducted by local patrols at Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Te Aroha and Te Awamutu. Additions were also made to local sign-posting and particular attention was paid to level crossings. As a result of persistent representations two of the most dangerous crossings in Hamilton, at Grey Street, Claudelands. and Seddon Road, were now covered by adequate warning devices.

Mention was also made of the teaching of safety first to children in the various schools and the use of moving picture displays to illustrate the lectures. The need for members to support the association loyally was stressed by several speakers in view of the difficulties caused by the war. Benzine Restrictions Strong support was forthcoming from the meeting for an appeal by the North and South Island Motor Unions petitioning the Government to grant an increase in the petrol rationing. One member pointed out that the present restrictions were severer in New Zealand than in other parts of the British Commonwealth, particularly Australia. Before the war New Zealand road-users were using 100 million gallons of petrol a year, but now the consumption was reduced to 72 millions, a decrease of 30 per cent. Private car-owners, however, had been even more severely treated and their allowance was now 50 per cent only of the pre-war consumption. The meeting unanimously supported a resolution which, while expressing complete loyalty in the prosecution of the nation’s war effort, urged the Government to relax the present petrol restrictions.

The election of officers for the ensuring year resulted as follows: Chairman, Mr W. Y. Kirkman; committee, Messrs E. R. Roskruge, F. Best, F. E. Mason, N. Holden, E. Thomas and L. J. Mark. On the motion of Mr L. J. Mark, the members of the Hamilton Association pledged themselves to assist the Emergency Precaution authorities in every way possible and to ensure the smooth working of local defence measures in the event of a national emergency. Following the official business of the meeting, members were entertained with colour films illustrating travel in other countries.