Lincolnshire Automobile Club

Annual Report of the Committee 1917

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The Committee, in presenting their annual report and balance sheet, have to state that the active work of the club has not proceeded as heretofore, in consequence of the many restrictions now in force. The membership owing to loss through the war and resignations now stands at 226.

  At the annual general meeting held on February 2^nd 1917 , Sir H. Bacon, Bart., was re-elected. The Committee was reappointed, as also were the Hon. Solicictor, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, and Auditor, Messrs. A.A. Padley, A.R. Simpson, T.C. Ives and J.S. Streets.

  The difficulty in getting petrol supplies through the year considerably curtailed the activities of the members and when the new order came in force on November 1^st, private motoring practically ceased.

  The club has interested itself in the Volunteer Motor Corps, which grew out of the Motor Volunteer Ambulance Service and now promises to fulfil an important position in the general defence of the country.

  A member of the committee, Mr A.E. Brunning, has been gazetted Major, and will command the County Branch of the Corps. Members are actually training in various parts of the county, but so far, the time is not yet ripe for a parade of vehicles.

  We are advised that members will be able to run their cars when called out for duty, whether an Inland Revenue licence is held or not, in any case, a rebate will be allowed where licences are held.

  The formation of this Corps has created a very large amount of work which has been, and is still being carried out by the organising officers of the Corps throughout the county, most of whom are members of the club, and were previously concerned in the raising and organisation of the Transport service, the success of which led to the organisation of the Motor Volunteer Corps being placed in the hands of its present executive.

  It is hoped that those who have any time to spare will enrol and so actively assist in the very patriotic purpose for which it has been formed. 

  A great deal of assistance has been given by members in conveying wounded men from the station to the hospitals and the Committee cannot express their appreciation too highly of the unselfish service of those members given at many times at great personal inconvenience to themselves.

  The Committee have generally considered the position of this club relative to the Royal Automobile Club, and felt that under the abnormal conditions it would be well if formal notice was given to the Secretary of the Royal Automobile Club to terminate the existing agreement on December 31^st, 1918, not necessarily with a view to severing the relationship, but to give the opportunity of re-considering the whole matter at the proper time, and this notice is accordingly being given.

  It was decided at the last Committee meeting that those wishing to become Honorary Members should have the option of so doing, so that if any member wishes to avail himself of this the Secretary will be glad to receive intimation; such Honorary Membership will not carry any privileges, such as a free supply of the “Autocar” or other motor paper, legal advice, or any assistance from the club such as is usually given.

  As members are doubtless aware, the “Autocar” is now 3d. weekly, and other motor papers have also doubled in price, so that from date, a supply of motor papers will only be made where subscriptions have been paid for the current year.

At the end of last year the balance was £128 6s. 0½d.;This year it is £203 7s. 4½d., of which £150 is invested in the 5 per cent. War Loan.