BROADSIDING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 5

BROADSIDING.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —In fairness to all concerned, the management of the Speedway Royal desires to correct the statements made by a correspondent in your issue of the 16th inst. signing himself “ Fair Play is Bonny Play,” who is undoubtedly labouring under a misapprehension. Most fair-minded speedway patrons will agree that the local management has done all in its power to foster and encourage the local riders. The fact is one that has frequently been commented upon in the local press. Nevertheless, it would be ridiculous to assert for one moment that these local riders, who for the most part are only improvers after all, should command anything like the same rates of payment as the experienced broadside riders who, without a doubt, provide the main attractions at the meetings at which they appear. The management is most desirous of seeing the local men improve sufficiently to be matched against the best from Australia and England, and where it is found that local broadsiders are able to hold their own with overseas stars the management has been only too willing to pay the rates of appearance money that are paid in other centres, viz.— Scratch riders, £7; Isec men, £5; 2sec, £4; 3sec men, £3; and all other starters up to 6sec, £2. It is just a matter for question whether some of the local riders have shown the desire to improve that has been looked for by the management. Will it be.denied that some of them do not look to their machines from one week to another? It is scarcely reasonable to expect the management to help those riders who are not willing to help themselves. The remarks concerning _ the test matches cannot be substantiated. The management of the Speedway Royal is certainly interested to learn that “it easily earns 100 per cent, clear profit,” but, unfortunately, the statement does not happen to be according to fact, as anyone who troubles to calculate according to figures, and not by the guesswork figures of your correspondent, will find. It is a fact that the charges in Dunedin throughout the . season have been the lowest in the Dominion, and one has only to consider the expense in bringing such a galaxy of talent as is represented by the New Zealand and English teams together to realise that it would be impossible, from a business point of view, to stage the meeting without a slight increase in prices. The admission charges in the north are practically the same as for Dunedin, and the expense in assembling the teams is not so great in Christchurch and W/ellington as in Dunedin and Auckland.

The Speedway Royal is willing at all times to listen to constructive criticism, but the type of comment that has been levelled at the management in some quarters certainly does not appear to emanate from any real supporter of a thrilling sport.—l am, etc., J. L. Johnston, Secretary, Dunedin Speedways, Ltd.