Vandalism

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31027, 5 April 1966, Page 16

Vandalism

Sir, —Recently I had occasion to go through Bradford Park to Forbes street on my bicycle. Some young hooligans had stretched a wire across the track about two feet from the ground. It brought me off my bicycle, and in my health condition and my age it could quite easily have proved fatal. However, this did not concern the Sydenham police. All they could harp on was that I might be prosecuted for riding a bicycle through the park. When will the parks committee start exploiting this new source of revenue? Or does one have to meet with an accident before proceedings against the “victim” can be taken? The Sydenham police are adamant about notices which prohibit cycling in parks. What are they going to do about the £lO reward for proving that vandalism has occurred in a park? What does the chairman of the reserves and parks committee have to say about the thousands of cyclists who use the parks in the course of a week.—Yours. TOM BRYCE. March 30, 1966. [Cr. P. J. Skellerup. chairman of the parks and recreation committee of the Christchurch City Council, replies: “By-law number 15, section 162, reads: ’No person shall ride or drive any vehicle of any description whatever on a path within the limits of a park or over places other than those set apart for the purpose by the council, nor in Cranmer square, Latimer square, or on the banks of the river Avon.’ Although there is no requirement that the council must erect signs in parks stating that the riding or driving of vehicles is prohibited, many such notices are displayed throughout city and suburban parks. It seems doubtful whether the stretching of a wire between trees constitutes an act of vandalism. No doubt, however, the police could charge the culprits, if they are apprehended, under an appropriate section of the Police Offences Act. As the Police Department has been mentioned by the corresoondent, it is felt that this letter should be referred there also.” ]