1906 Motor Union
Note: This is a sub-section of Motor Union of Great Britain and Ireland
1906 March. Annual Report. Membership 11,265.[1]
1906 November. The Motor Union Annual Dinner. [2]
A Brilliant and Instructive Function.
The Motor Union held a most successful annual dinner at the Great Central Hotel on November 14th. Nearly 500 attended, among whom were many ladies. The dinner also marked the tenth anniversary of the Act legalizing motor-cars.
The Motor Union, including the affiliated automobile clubs of Great Britain, now has a membership of 14,284. No fewer than 82 clubs are enrolled. The Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., the chairman of the Motor Union, presided, and the company included many notabilities, among whom were Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Earl and Countess Russell, Sir David Salomons, Bart., Sir Henry Norman, M.P., Sir A. Conan Doyle, Sir E. R. Henry (Chief Commissioner of Police), Sir Alexander Henderson, Mr. E. G. Hemmerde, M.P., Professor Von Herkomer (who designed the picture illustrating the menu), Mr. G. L. Gomme (clerk to the London County Council), Mr. W. Runciman, M.P. (representing the Local Government Board), the chairmen and secretaries of many of the provincial automobile clubs, and a host of well known motorists.
After the loyal toasts by the Chairman, Mr. Hemmerde proposed, in an excellent speech, "Motorism and the Motor Union." he touched on the remarks of Mr. Justice Darling in the famous Little case, where a private gentleman was prosecuted for obstructing the police, and said that the judge's remarks would almost make it illegal for bishops and missionaries to carry on their work against evil doers.
Sir A. Conan Doyle gave a fighting speech, in which he denounced, in strong words, the "trapping" methods of the police.
Mr. Walter Runciman, M.P., replying for "The Houses of Parliament," definitely stated that no taxation of motor-cars on a horse-power basis would be included in the next Budget, but hinted at some form of taxation, and invited suggestions from motorists for an equitable tax.
Sir E. Henry, replying for the police, stated that, in spite of the great increase in the number of registered cars, the number of prosecutions was declining, showing that motorists were becoming more considerate. With regard to the motor-omnibus question, the police were between two fires — the public, who complained of noise, smell, and vibration, and the 'bus owners, who complained of the damage done to their business by the withdrawal of licenses. He hoped soon to have a scientific noise measurer.
Mr. Gotham, for the County Council, urged motorists to be careful how they agitated for taxation of motor-cars to be allocated to road improvement, for fear that this should form the sole source of revenue for that purpose.
Other speakers were Mr. J. W. Taylor (county surveyor of Hampshire), Mr. C. D. Rose, M.P., and Major J. A. Cole (chairman of the Lincolnshire Automobile Club).
Mr. Claude Johnson, himself a pioneer motorist, proposed "The Pioneers of the Movement." This was responded to by Sir David Salomons, Bart., and Mr. Roger Wallace, K.C., both veteran motorists.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu proposed "The Chairman," and, regretted, as did every motorist, the impending retirement of Mr. Stanley from the Chairmanship.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Autocar 1906/03/17
- ↑ Motoring Illustrated of 24th November 1906