1929-05-25 — Page 16

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

FROM LITTLE ACORNS.

How a Motorists' Protective Unit Has

Grown into a Vast Association.

[By Maurice Sampson.) (PART 2 CONCLUDED).

Touring Activities. The activities of this one-time acorn, now a very big and sturdy oak trec, may be sub-divided rough ly into three sections: Touring, Engineering and Political.

It is rather difficult to say which of the three in the most important, but I shall deal with touring first, because that is the part of the or ganfaation which probably affects

the time?" asked the touring pert.

"12.31," I answered.".

-:

MOTORING SUPPLEMENT.

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1929.

busy with the A.Authorlty working hand in hand with practi cal experience we should all be able to regain ourselves admirably and its softly in most of the towns of Great Britain."

seasoned traveller, but of vital im- tions always puzzles me. If I have port to the novice on his first motora 12 h.p. car, which as a matter of trip abroad.

fact I have, and my neighbours, res- And all this is provided in five pectively, have an Austin Seven and minutes while you wait, in fact a Rolls-Royce, I feel that if I pay You Just sit in a chair by a nice double my Tiddler friend's sub warm radiator, light a cigarette, scription; the Rolls man ought to and lo! your information is before pay double my own. I put this

I would like to see the. A.A, laj you, in breast-pocket form.

forward, as worth consideration. I Linked up with this hive of in-don't grudge the Austin Savon the position of the French T.GF. formation is the smoothing of your owner his good luck, but the fact of That body in able to bestow Its ways when you take your car his owning that car is no criterion benison or its curse on any estab abroad. I do not propose to say a of his lack of moans, As a matter great deal about it, but if you want of fact I once owned one myself, and lishment which caters for passing to go anywhere in the civilleed as it cost next to nothing to motorists. Again, in France, a world with your car, and visit the run I was better off than I have ever little star in the Michelin guide A.A. at any of its offices, you have been since I parted with it. This against the name of a hotel indi- cates specially good cooking. ex-nothing to do but say what you by the way.

want, sign documents in the spacesAs I have just sald, even if you shall we ever see the day when to which your attention is directed, pay the appropriate sums of money only potter forth at week-ends, you involved the Association does not very much get your value for your crossed knife and fork, similarly Have you ever considered ser7038 will mean that even the dyspeptic get any of it; all it gets is your twenty-one or forty-two shillings. placed in the "A.A. Handbook, modest membership fec-and then

ly what the roads round our great may sit down at table without, a depart on your lawful occasions.

cities and towns would be like at week-ends if all the road patrols qualm, nay, with enthusiasm?

Now may I touch upon the en-

"A bit slow-no, not your watch, but our service; you must put it down to the fu; one or two of our best people are away,"

"But: I don't quite follow, what

? why

/

Excusable Delay.

Too Easy,

H

So eagy has this vast organisa-were withdrawn? Have you ever "Your route, from Golders Green tion made it to find one's motoring thought how long an average the majority of members. It inter-to Bridgend-you have it in your way about the world, and so Journey of about 100 miles take gineering side? Under a chief en-j cata me the most and I am a

ber.

J

space of time you 'are given routes

work!

do.

"Going Foreign."

MOTOR UNION

INSURANCE CO LT2

Incorporated in England

(Under the auspices of the Automobile Association)

PROMPT AND LIBERAL CLAIM SETTLEMENTS.

LOCAL AGENTS,

THE UNION TRADING Co., Ltd.

York Building.

Phone 0. 578.

RIDE A KONET AND GOYON FITTED WITH M.A.G. ENGINE

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS

FAMOUS ENGINE ⠀

THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS RICE IN FRANCE

The Hill Climb De La Turbie

175 c.c. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th All on M. & G.. 250 c,o. Ist on M. & G. 850 c.c. 1st on M. & G. M.A,G. engine. 500 c.c. 1st on M.A.4. engine 750 c.c. 1st on M.AG. engine

·SIDECARS,

358 c.c. 1st on M. & G. MA,G. engine 600.c.c. 1st on M.A.G. engine

ASK FOR EASY PAYMENT PLAN THE FRENCH MOTOR CYCLE Co.

46, Nathan Road, KOWLOON.

You can take it that there ispare. Excusable in the circum-tioned by huge numbers of its near---would occupy if you went without permanent consulting engineers, ly 400,000 members, that it makes taking risks and the road patrois fully qualified men, always at the practically no place in the civilised stances, but scarcely a hustle."

I opened the envelope. It con- me feel as though the old pioneering were not on duty, and contrasted service of members. This depart a skilled and diplomatic gobe world where motor vehicles can run tained some useful roadside hints, spirit is dying in our race. Think the time with what you normally ment is of enormous assistance as tween when members get to logger that is not in some way or other even pages devoted to the route, all of the days when, armed only with take?

Were it not for the patrols to heads with garages, need used cars charted, indexed and known in very much detailed; intermediate one's own head upon one's should- Panur House.

You just cannot mileages between fifty different era, one sought out strange lands slow you down or wave you on, you vetting, or their Interests locked make the Touring Department raise places on the way; a mass of his and peoples unaided by the romi- ought, if you value your life and after if they are called abroad and its eyes or catch its breath. You torical information on the towns cations of a giant organisation, the lives of others, to reduce speed leave their cars behind them. This may enter, and in the most disarm-paused through; present-day data; with a nerve centre in London, and to a chawl at numerous cross-roads, department never sleeps, for there during twenty-four ing manner say you want to motor notes on the roads and scenery, tentacles reaching from California and look carefully up and down bela always,

fore crossing. If you did not do 60,hours of every day in the year, an to Tanganyika. You are put

But the fact that the Association you would not be a good insurance engineer on the premises in New Coventry Street. No service is too through to "Foreign Touring," and and five, very clearly printed town to Turkey! in an almost inconceivably brief Diana. Not bad for six minutes last year, shipped oversens so many risk for long.

And think of the tediousness of big, nothing too trivial for them, "Now, perhaps you'd like to go thousands of members' cars," set to the must convenient Mediterran- foreign," I was asked; "If so, name their occupants on their straight or motoring on our main roads in such since what might appear trivial to enn. port, and then conducted as a route and we will see what we caback at the foreign ports, and en-conditions. No one would keep to them may be vital to a member. winding courses, welcomed "them pleasantly, as, may be to Tungan-'

In the Small Hours, folded them in a wide embrace on such careful tactics for long, and yika, or as near to it as a motor

reaching their own shores once the result would be nothing but car on wheels may go. What is

I will quote one instance, for the more, shows that a very large num-care headlined in newspapers, even information from any of the Les Sables d'Olonne, and suggest these days. more, you can obtain just the same "Right. Take me from Calais tour of people want looking after more crowding in hospitals, and details of which I can vouch. Not

overtime for coroners.

very long ago a member rang up twenty-two area offices,

But when I think of Frankie So that is why I am rather aston-at 3 am. from a public tolophono a fashionable London But it is the surprising speed somewhere, to atop the night on the

way."

Drake on the little Golden shed that anyone can to-day con-box in with which detalled, accurate In precisely five minutes a route routes, with intermediate and total "replete with all modern conveni-Hind a vessel we should to-day scientiously refuse to pay thin square: He had just bought his 16 rather riaky for modest premium towards eafer and first car, had left it parked in the distances in kilometeres and miles reps, and historical lore was placed regard

Here is the square while he was at a party, during the small hours of the to Parliament in favour of the petrol tax in place of the £1 per If abroad and miles if at home, before me. Its wrapper also con- cross-Channel service, and with faster road travel.

Finally, we will tread for a mo- hp. imposition. So that looks as a crew of forty youths, push-A.A. spending approximately £500,- and on going to it found a tyre flat, morning. are provided.

"Where would you like to go for hotels and garages in France, all ing off down Channel on his little 000 a year on road service. As a What should he do? Yes, he had

the Association's While constantly engaged in some agreed with tusale or other with a Government views. a run in the chief of the Touring France, not merely those on my aunts to the West Indies, round paying member I feel a little a spare wheel, but did not know ment the thorny path of politics. though a very great many people Department anked me.

selected route-a leaflet, with his the Horn itself, and even right strongly that many not paying yet how to manipulate it.

The night member of the en- department, the A.A. is best known

Anyway, whatever our ultimate "How about Golders Green to torical notes, on the Chateaux coun- round the world, I wonder whe-just as much safety strewn in their

gineering department gave him and ther the Automobile Association as pathe as I do.. Bridgend ?" I answered. "They are try, town.

as an uncompromising opponent off plans of Calais both rather attractive names."

It is sometimes said that the clear lecture on how to jack up the twenty shillings per horse fate may be, the Association is not "Have a look at your watch," Boulogne, a list of ueful maps, and a body is not a good deal hardier

patrole do little but salute. Per-explained how the jack was oper-power system of car taxation, and dismayed, and keena pegging away two suggestions for a night's stop and sturdier than many of its mom-

sions. After all, with a member- said he,

in the 479 miles, journey-onent' No wonder that acorn has grown sonally, the saluting means little ated and where to look for it on as an advocate of a tax on potro in the Lobby and before Commis-

Taxation of cura by "Why? It's not quite time for the "Grand Angleterre" at Beau-

ship such as it has, it does ropre- to me I had enough and to spare the car, what a wheel brace is and instead. lunch; but I make It 12.5"

vals, which is, the route Informs me up into a mighty oak!

But, if you never tour abroad, or in War-time-but, after all, it is a how to use it, how to put on the usage, in fact,

At present it looks as though! sont a very big body of opinion. "Remember that-12.26." I said 126 miles from Calais; and, if I like,

attract thousands" more members. I would, but could not see much i am invited again to rest my body even at home, in the sense of re-pleasant and courteous, salutation, spare wheel and mount the one

so forth and so on. Laughable, we labour under both forms of point in it-it's nicer to think of the at Tours (309 m.) at the "Metro. quiring a ready-made route, you and does no harm, and probably with the flat tyre in its place, and this campaign has miscarried, as if not, it would not continue to clock nearer lunch time. However, pole," the "de l'Univers," or

the have very good value for your two pleases aomo people immensely.

you may say. Perhaps, but that taxation. I am not going to argue every few months. But not all patrols can salute member did not see anything to about the pros or cons of either "We are nover asleep here" was I sald I would remember in order "Central."

There were niso con guineas-or one guinea only if your under one-litre engine,

laugh at, and I, for one, consider system-though I will say I hate the tale I heard on overy floor and humour the good man.

cise hints on driving in France, ar is

engine even the touchiest member.

could show you a hardworked man his two guineas had been very well the combination-but the A.A. in every department throughout in khaki at a now arterial road apent if only for the benefit of the took a referendum of its members, Tanum House. crossing, a main road to the north voice at the other end of the 'phone and presented a monster petition I believe It-Implicitly. of London, who has about the toughest trac-directing job I can imagine. He has not a alack moment for hours on end, and if he ever succeeds in saluting me I shall

tained a llat of A.A.recommended

bers.

Someone came into the room and rules of the rond, and other matters capacity--though what

do with subscrip. hunded me an envelope. "What's perhaps well understood by the capacity has to

JUST TRY IT IN TRAFFIC

Not only does the New Oldsmobile, offer the fine-car qualities of power, comfort and appearance-but it of fers them in a car of convenient size, designed to meet modern-day traffic conditions.

Just try it in traffic. Mark its silent Emoothness as you flash ahead when an opening appears accelerating in high from 5 to 25 m. p, h. in a scant 874 seconds. Note the quick response to steering See how easily you slip into small parling places-a taperca frame enables you to turn complete- ly around in a 36-foot circle. Then head for the oj in road

...here is speed to mert every driving emer- gency, to answer every desire.

Only fine-car de ign and

SEE HOW IT PARKS

fine-car features could give thig fine-car performance. A rubber cushioned, 55.1. Bigh-compression engine...crankcase ventilation ...controlled cooling and full-pres- sure oiling these are typical exam- ples of the advanced engineering that you find in the new Olde mobile.

We want you to drive the new Olde mobile. We want your own experi ence to confirm the growing judg ment of America-"Here, truly, is the Pitie Car of Low Price"-- the

judgment that thousands" are confirming by choos ing Oldsmobile. We have a new Oldsmobile wait- ing for you.... come take that driva today!

..M$2,500.00

Roadster

Touring

M$2,500.00

Bedan (2-door)

M$2,300.00

Bedan (4-door)

,M$2,800.00

The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd.

Telephone Central 1248 or 1247.‹

33, Wong Nei Chung Road, Happy Valley,

OLDSMOBILE

OF GENERAL MOTORS

PRODUCT

CAR

O F 'LOW PRICE:

THE

FINE

suggest to a theatrical manager of UNMATCHED IN APPEARANCE

my acquaintance that engages

him as the greatest prestidigita-

teur-wonderful word that of

this or any other age.

+

comes

There are plenty more like him but this particular man often under my notice, so I in- stance him. Member and non- member alike are sped safely on their ways by this humble but ever cheerful and efficient AA, patrol.

Of course, you may argue that this sort of service ought properly to be carried out by the police. I don't know; but I do know that it has been publicly stated that each constable costs ratepayers: some £300 a year. Figure out for your selves, if every A.A. patrol were re- placed by a policeman, what rate- Not payers would have to And. only that, but the patrols are traffic-directing and traffic-control- Hng experts, whereas it would take a pretty long time to make such smart fellows out of country con- stables. I can hardly bear to think of what would happen at some country cross-roads know!

Let me also record that all pit- rols are encouraged to take the St. John ambulange course, and when proficient receive extra pay.

During the busy touring season the A.A. supplies many thousande of routes every week-in the four days preceding the Easter holiday. I learned that from 8,000 to 10,000. is not exceptional. Wrapped up with touring is the subject of hotela.

In the matter of hotel appoint- ments and recommendations, the Association does a great deal of work. It helps many members. It makes mistakes. It is not infal- lible. But it is, I am satisfied, do- ing its very best. Unless one dige below the surface, it is difficult to discover the immenso obstacles to be overcome before the all-round level in comfort and. cooking in British hotels and inne can brought up to that of the Con- tinent.

bo

If there is one body which I-am persuaded can bring about a gen- erat levelling up of our hotels and Inns it is the A.A. I know they have the matter at heart at Fanum House. I wish them well in their long tussle with Mr, Bung. But they cannot work miracles, and before we can be sure of kitchene being equal to bars we must have help from the Government, only the Board of Trade would get

AND PERFORMANCE

BROCKWAY

TRUCKS

THE BEST LIGHT TRUCK TRANSPORTATION

OBTAINABLE.

We shall be pleased to convince you

of the excellence of these

vehicles

THE ASIATIC AMERICAN CO.

SHOWROOM

OFFICE

11, Queen's Road. Tel. 0. 675.

48, Stanley Street. Tel. O. 244,

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