“Free Seats” at Speedway Cost a Guinea Each

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5566, 3 February 1931, Page 2

“Free Seats” at Speedway Cost a Guinea Each

ON ROOF OF A. & P. SHEDS. It cost a number of Palmcrstonians just over one guinea to see the dirttrack riders scattering the cinders on tho speedway at a recent meeting. Nobody will deny that this thrilling form of entertainment is .worth a lot, but there is another side to tho story. The broadsiding fans might have witnessed the meeting for a couple of shillings, and also obviated dealings with Court officials to say nothing of “ the men in blue.” Tho sequel to the “free” entertainment was that a number of men were charged before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in tlie Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday with obtaining admittance on January 1 to the Manawatu Speedways’ ground without paying for admission.

“The company do not want to press for a heavy penalty in this instance, but wish it to be a warning to the public. generally,” explained Scnior-Sc’’-goant Whitehousc. “On the night of the meeting a number of people started to get in through properties in Waldegravc street adjoining the grounds and climbed on to the roof of one of the exhibition sheds belonging to the A. and P. Societv. There was a great number on this point of vantage and there was a danger of damage to the sheds. “It was estimated that 300 persons gained admittance to the ground without pavment. a number of them getting in early and mixing with the crowd, thus making it impossible to catch them,” he continued. “The speedwav authorities also had men watching the fences and. in one case, a party, of men accosted hv these officials threatened violence. T mnv also add that. I think perhaps that the people in Waldcgrave street who allowed their pronertv to be used should be charged with aiding and abetting the offence.” Those charged with the offence were: P. Put-rick. E. Webster.-E. P. Bryant, F. Broderick. ,T. Blackburn, A. Gorlov, J. 11. Hudson, E. A. Heaphy and R. Thomas. Pleas of guilty were entered bv Brvant. Webster and Broderick, the offenders being fined 5s each and ordered tn pav costs 16s, the Magistrate pointing out that the penalty would be heavier on the next occasion.