The Record
Editorial: Our Twenty-Fifth Anniversary.
(Source 'The Record', Editorial, November 1929)
'TWENTY -FIVE Years ago, the energy of Major Harold North in getting together a small band of enthusiastic motorists resulted in the formation of the Automobile Club of Ceylon.
At the Inaugural Meeting held in the Queen's Hotel, Kandy,on November 12th, 1904, these pioneers - numbering seventy-seven - formulated the objects of the Club, the chief amongst these being to deal with the stray cattle and pariah dog nuisance. It is interesting to note that, whilst the latter has improved somewhat, straying cattle are still a menace to motorists in almost every district in Ceylon even within the Fort in Colombo. .
His Excellency Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G., the then Governor of the Colony, consented to be the Club's first Patron and each successive Governor has graciously extended his patronage to what has now become the largest Club in Ceylon.
Major North proved a most energetic Hony. Secretary right up to 1912 and is today, one of the Club's two Vice-Presidents, and a keen Committee Member.
Membership has risen steadily from year to year and with the growth of motoring since the termination of the War, the yearly increases have been most encouraging. At the end of 1925 the Membership was 1,104; in 1926 -1,375 and in 1927 - 2,018. On December 31
st, 1928, this had risen to 2,937, whilst to-day's effective Membership is 3,223.
The material advantages of belonging to the Club have been greatly increased in recent years and the detailed list of benefits to be found on the last page of the "Record," gives a variety of reasons why every motorist should become a part of the only Organisation in a position to protect his interests and to help him in the numerable ways the Automobile Club of Ceylon is helping its Members today.
Every new Member enrolled makes it possible to increase the services given to all Members. Bear this in mind and see that all your friends understand exactly what the Club can do for them. If they understand, they will join. Send us the name of any friend interested in motoring and whom -if not already a Member - you would be willing to propose for membership. If he is already a Member, we will take further steps, but if he is not -we will.
Send these names now, for Membership effective from January 1st, 1930.
