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AUTOMOBILE CLUBS
387

managed by Messrs. Cordingley, was also held at the Agricultural Hall, from April 14 to 21. Numerous house dinners and discussions were arranged during the year, together with three 100 miles trials on the Oxford Road, and electric trials at Chiselhurst. Automobile gymkhanas took place at Ranelagh and Sheen House, and a fete at the Crystal Palace. The issue of a Club gazette, under the title of 'Notes and Notices,' was begun, of which twenty-three numbers have been published, while eight branches of the Club were established throughout the United Kingdom. As a preliminary to an extensive campaign in 1901, moreover, demonstrations of motor-car efficiency and control were held before the County Councils of Warwick and East Suffolk, in consequence of a hostile agitation having been set afoot in favour of the reduction of the speed limit to ten miles an hour. In several directions during the year the Club was able to secure a reduction of absurd tolls levied on motor-cars, and the removal of objectionably restrictive clauses in a corporation Bill.

In 1901 the conversion of the County Councils was successfully taken in hand. Towards the close of the previous year a letter of twenty-six pages of printed matter had been forwarded to 4,412 County Councillors and sixty-five clerks to County Councils, who were now invited to attend a big central demonstration in the metropolis, or to arrange for demonstrations in their own locality. Cars were sent to various parts of the country for this purpose in the early part of the year, pending the great demonstration in June. The last-named function extended over three days, between three and four hundred County Councillors being driven on cars to Sheen House, and there entertained to luncheon before the return to town. It is certain that the ease with which the cars could be controlled was a complete and gratifying revelation to the majority of the visitors. The Chief Constables of the English ami Welsh counties were also approached by the Club in the frank and friendly manner which has characterised its propagandist efforts throughout. They had been circularised in the