The annual general meeting, of members of the above club was held at the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, Mr. B. Firth presiding over a very smal] attendance. The committee's report stated in part:—
The membership numbered 371 at date, made up of 287 resident membe: s and 84 absent members. The Club was in a sound financial position, and Tls. 8,000 and Tls. 3,000 had been invested in 6 per cent. and 7 per cent. Municipal Debentures, respectively.
The chairman, drawing attention to the small attendance, said had to be admitted that it was due to lack of interest by the members. During the year there had been discussions with regard to the road to Woosung and its upkeep. He could only say that, if motorists wanted the Chinese to build and maintain roads, then it was for the users to pay. Some did pay, but many did not. Certainly, it was a very small mileage for the tax that was paid, but, if the authorities were approached in a proper manner, he thought they would reduce the tax, especially if all motorists paid towards it. The promoters of the good roads movement had approached the Club for assistance, pointing out the prosperity that the extension of good roads would bring to China and with this he agreed. He regretted that he could give no further information with regard to the Road to the Hills, but he did not think that the Council were letting the matter go by.
At the last annual meeting, the Committee asked for an authorization to reduce the subscription, with the idea of getting new members in. The plan had been successful to a certain extent, but they were still far short of what they had hoped to achieve and_ their membership was a very small proportion of the motorists of Shanghai. Only by securing more members would the Club gain that influence which it sought to have. The Club was out for more than cheap gasoline and cheap tyres. He instanced its efforts to affiliate with the larger organizations. The road to Woosung was another instance of what the Club did for its members, for the scheme would not have gone through in the time it did had it not been for the enthusiastic support of the Club, and that was an example of what they wanted to do for roads in general.
'Then there were the negotiations with the trade representatives, which he hoped would bear fruit, and the establishment of the Council's chauffeurs' school, as to which some credit was due to the Club, which spent a good deal of money with the Y.M.C.A. schoo] and, had it not done so, there would not have been a Council schoo} to-day.
The report and accounts were adopted and the following were elected a committee: Messrs. Firth (chairman), C- R. Burkill (vice-chairman), RR. T. Peyton-Griffin, H. von Heidenstam, F. R.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.