Lincolnshire Automobile Club

Annual Report of the Committee 1916

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The Committee has pleasure in presenting the Annual report.

  The membership despite the inevitable losses due to the War is 295.

At the Annual General Meeting, held on January 21^st 1916 , Sir Hickman Bacon, Bart. Was re-elected President and the Vice-Presidents and Committee were also re-elected.

  A considerable outcry in the spring was made in the newspaper press at the amount of pleasure motoring alleged to be taking place, but a close enquiry proved that such was not the case in this County, and that those Members who had continued to use their cars were nearly wholly employed on War work of one nature or another.

  In the Spring of the year the question of the payment of 7/6 per member as Capitation Fee to the R.A.C. to entitle the members to the privileges of the Associate was raised by several of the neighbouring County Automobile Clubs. It was expressed by their Committees that a reduction was desirable, and the subject was gone into very thoroughly. The conclusion arrived at by your Committee was that the further consideration of the matter was inopportune for the present.

  The subject of Taxation by Horse Power raised a considerable outcry, and the views of the Club were very strongly placed before the parent body, the Royal Automobile Club, and greatly as the outcome of the strong representation  made by the supporting Clubs the proposed system of Taxation by Horse Power was abandoned in favour of a petrol tax, a more equitable system, and one, moreover, which has drawn much needed attention to the value of more economical running of cars, as improved mileage per gallon directly influences the total cost per car mile.

  The Club has taken action during the year in several legal cases with satisfactory results to the Members concerned.

  The delay in obtaining petrol licences, lighting difficulties, and collisions through cattle straying on the road, are amongst other matters taken in hand.

  The deterioration of the roads due to the abnormal traffic, has received the careful consideration of the Committee, and efforts have been made towards obtaining improvement. The usual grant to the Road Improvements Association has been given.

  A contribution was made to the Lincolnshire Yeomanry Comforts Fund.

  Hearty support has been given to the Lincolnshire Volunteer Ambulance Transport Service funds, a grant of £25 being made, which, together with a similar grant from the Red Cross Society has enabled this service to be developed and to now form a nucleus of rapid mobilization of transport in the case of an invasion.

  The further appeal in connection with the French Red Cross was met by a donation of £25.

  The Club still continues to send free to members a copy of the Autocar or other weekly penny papers, and the Secretary hopes that those Members who do not receive their papers regularly will report to him.