The Automobile Club of China, with Me, E, Gordon Lowder, chair man, presiding, held its annual gen oral meeting on Wednesday afternoon at 515, in the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, 17 The Bund, The Committee's report and statement of accounts for the year ending December 91, 1927, was eeeived and a new Committee, con" prising Messrs, E, Gordon Lowder, chairman, B. Firth, L.A. Harrop, Junginger, G, "Morris, G. Okada, C, L, Seitz, R. G. Herbert, and B, Rein. were elected, The following report of able interest to local materi read by the chairman Ity of exagnorathe year 1927 was one of the most momentous in the history of Shanghai. The politico and labour crises which caused such havoc and suffering in -many parts of the country found somewhat violent reflection in the Shanghai district which, fortunately, has been liquidated very considerably and whilst there is much to be desired the outlook is bright er, From tha point of view of the motoring public of Shanghai the year was notable in many ways, principal amongst which were the serootly increased number of automobiles on the roads with the re sultan congestion which occurred luring rush hours in various seetions of the city, and the introduction, in somewhat hasty manner, of regulations for. the registration and licoricing of motor vehicles by the Chinese authorities of Greater Shavigl The Increase in Traffic The increased vokime of traffic was accounted for, to a certain degree, by the presence of the Der fence Forces with the usual mechanical equipment, but the greater part of the increase is the result of the swelling of the ranks of private owners, the ever growing
the expansion of the hire ear jussiness, What is. more important, of motor freight vehicles: to my mind, is the fact that there not likely to be any slackening Of of progress under any of the headings mentioned with the exception of military vehicles, and in view of the fact that expansion i the number of vehicles is not being met by a corresponding increase in the area over which they can operate one can only conclude that traffic congestion will increase very seriously. The tampering with the constructed Municipal roads in the outside di and other obstructionist demonstration by bad Chinese elements which meet any attempt to improve conditions, are most re-grottable and it would seem to me that the tnembers of the Good Roads Movement of China have here a splendid opportunity to use their influence in preventing these wanton acts of destruction which are retarding progress in roa: making in the Shanghai district and the proper. expansion which the city requires.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.