NOISY MOTOR-CYCLISTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 8

NOISY MOTOR-CYCLISTS

TO THE IDITOB OF THE PRBS3. Sir, —I take this opportunity of writing on behalf of motor-cyclists in general—not on behalf of those cyclists whose open exhausts have been causing so much trouble of late. Indeed, I sympathise greatly with the residents of Christchurch who are constantly awakened and annoyed by motorcycles with "straight-out" exhausts. But when a person is ko pig-headed and obstinately ridiculous as to condemn all motor-cyclists because a few law-breakers, which I admit owners of noisy motor-cycles are, have dis-

turbed his peaceful siesta, then it is time that pen is put to paper on our own behalf. I have never read such unadulterated piffle as was written by your correspondent "Tar and Feathers," who, not satisfied with complaining about the few whom I have mentioned above, goes to the extreme of saying that all men are "uncontrolled lunatics and menaces to all in their paths" as soon as they straddle a motor-cycle. To l think that any man of the average amount of intelligence could write such a statement is beyond all powers of comprehension. He goes on to say that a disturber of the peace in any other way would be promptly dealt with by the police, but that these "fiendish contraptions" with their artillery effect are allowed unchecked everywhere. Why then does he not write a letter to the paper complaining about the traffic inspectors and police officers, as would any man in his saner moments. I am not an old gentleman who rides a dilapidated motor-cycle at a speed not exceeding 20 miles an hour; neither am I an "uncontrolled lunatic" who careers along the streets without a thought for anything else on the road; indeed, I am only one of the large class of motor-cyclists to which the man with the machine with the "straight-out" exhaust does not belong. "Tar and Feathers" evidently belongs to the early Victorian era, and would like us to have a man walking in front with a red flag. One may presume from "Tar and Feathers's" letter on Wednesday that he has never known of motor-cars skidding when they "career" into loose gravel, nor has he ever read of motorcars skidding and the drivers losing control when the brakes "are applied in emergency." He tells us that he has been driving a car for some years past; then the only sound advice to him is to sell his car immediately and buy a pram, and a nurse to push him about. He seems to be oblivious to the fact that motor-cars have accidents as well as motor-cycles. Concluding. I would like to assure all readers that on no account do I uphold noisy motor-cycles: that is, motor-cycles which have an insufficient silencer fitted. Rather I condemn them, as others have done, of being a trouble io the community: but I refuse to allow any Tom, Dick, or Harry wh. cloaks himself with the insane nom-dc-plume of "Tar and Feathers" to call us all "uncontrolled lunatics," and to disparage us in the eyes of the community.—Yours, etc.,

O.G.R.E. Riccarton, January 25, 1935.

[Subnet to the right of reply of "Still Suffering" this correspondence is now closed.—Ed., "The Press."]