Motorists and Cyclists.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 2 October 1934, Page 6

Motorists and Cyclists.

Dear Sir. The axiom used as a nom-de-plume by the correspondent. 44 Right Is Right.” in Saturday’s 44 Star,” is not in accord with the contents of his letter. The paradox, right is wrong, would have been more appropriate lie claims that the motorists do not think any of their taxation goes to the maintenance of city roads, while in his statement to the “Star” Mr J. S. Ilawkes, who. as secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, is the spokesman for a large number of city motorists, asserts, 44 The motorists had to contribute heavily towards the laying down of concrete roads in the city and country, whilst the cyclist paid nothing." In my previous letter I pointed out that the cyclist did pav and paid heavily, although he did not use petrol. The reference to the baker and butcher simply showed how the tax was passed on and when it reached the poor cyclist, he was compelled to part out, besides paying his portion through the ordinary channel of the general rates as well. 44 Right Is Right ” gets a little mixed in his letter, and his thoughts lead him away back into the dim and distant days of tollgates, where he is pulled up with a sudden jolt. Being a motorist, it was probably the thought of having to pay out at the toll-gate that brought him back to the subject of cyclists. I agree with him that cyclists need protection, but that protection from the motorists, whose one desire is to have the use of the roads and city streets to themselves. We expect the Labour Council, to which 4 ‘ Right Is Right ” refers, to view the proposed by-law in fairness to cyclist and motorist alike, and if. as you suggested recently in a leader, the by-law lie amended to apply to the heart of the city only, the cyclists would have very little cause for complaint.—l am, etc., J. STURROCK.