10-1-52 16-12-52 Car Trophy Race At Wigram to be Held in February The Motor Racing Club has been, granted permission by the Government to hold its annual race for the Lady Wigram Trophy on the taxi-strips of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, on February 28. The race will consist of two twenty-five-mile heats with a • titty- : mile hnal. There will be £500 in stake money. Earlier this year the Government announced that, because of the expansion in Air Force training, there would be no more motor-rac ing on aerodromes, but it is under. stood clubs have been granted a concession for another year. Other Events Cars not nominated for the trophy race- the only scratch event of its type in the Dominion-may rin! in either a saloon car or an open and sports car race before the main event. Several overseas racing drivers are interested in the trophy race, but so far no information is available as to who is likely to compete. 3-12-52 SEE LAD WIG • RAM LAD WIG RAM RACE ROPEY RACE WIGRAM. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY WIGRAM, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 28 WIGRAM. SATURDAY. FEBRUARY WIGRAM, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 38. 1853. 88 TEERBI CZ901Z POLICE OPPOSE MOTOR-CYCLE RACES IN PARK Permit Not Required For Proposed Meeting THE Police Force has no official attitude to the pros ana cons oi the proposea motor-cicle races through Hagley Park. No police permit is required for the meeting. However, the Christehurch City Council, in line with its usual poliey in such matters, asked the police for their opinion. The reply did not encourage the race. Police officers would not elaborate their view this morning. but their feeling is known to be that the races through Hagley Park are undesirable on one or two grounds. The main one is that it would be difficult to control a crowd of major proportions in the park. * It is considered that such meetings are best held well out of the city. Another point is a more personal one. Policemen are not supposed to be biased one way or another, but some of them probably hold . the view that the tradition of Hagley Park hardly justifies the holding of motorcycle races there. Law's Provisions The law cover as that approved last night is cont port :Act, 1949, (Vehicular Traff • Regulations. The provisions cing such meetings by the City Council ained in the Transand the Transport Road Closure) are: The controlling authority-in this case the City Council-may close the roads to ordinary vehicular traffic for not more than twelve hours. Public notice of this must be given at least fourteen days before ine race. Objections must be lodged with the controlling authority not less than eleven days before the race. • The controlling authority must obtain consent from the Minister of Transport, or the Commissioner acting on behalf of the Minister. The Minister has to be satisfied that reasonable provision is made for vehicular traffic which would otherwise use the road. The regulations in no way restrict the power of the police to main- • tain public order on the roads. The regulations do not, of course, apply to Hagley Park, which is under the sole control of the council. May Not Be Held Although the City Council has' approved the holding of the race: over a circuit taking in Park Terrace, Harper Avenue, Deans Avenue, and through North Hagley Park by way of the sealed track from the south entrance back to the Armagh Street bridge, there is still a possibility that it will not be held. When, following a division at the council meeting last night, it became apparent that a majority of coun-! cillors were in favour of the race, which is to be held for the benent of the Centennial Air Race Fund, the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) declared that he would do all he could to prevent the contest being held. This morning he had not altered his Standing orders, the mechanics of procedure, and the city's by-laws are being studied, and it appears that every effort will be made. to prevent the race being held. 16-12-52 * "This decision will call for an emergency meeting of the Traffic and Reserves Committees," said Mr Macfarlane. The meeting will probably be held on Monday, and police as well as Air Race Council representatives will be asked to attend. One view at present held is that the by-laws make it illegal for any vehicle to travel at more than thirty miles an hour on the city streets. Another by-law prohibits vehicles from travelling in Hagley Park. Although the by-law relating to the park oheer Iskenay be quided ear, the extent by the fact that there, are Public Places in New Zealand where roads are closed to permit. montor cycle and car racing. i. 17-12-52 THE AIR RACE Sir,—I do not find that any fibre of my being vibrates at the prospect of an air race, but that funds for it! should be obtained by this rip-roaring! proposal motor-cycles racing through Hagley Park awakes my immediate concern. These are days off ; speed and noise, and of consequenti mental and nervous distresses. It is! therefore more than ever necessary that these evils should be curtailed,! and that the areas of peace and safety should be jealously guarded. On no • occasion should the flail of traffic or 'the cracked whip of a motor-cycle race be allowed to thrash them. reliable refuges they should be avail-l able to the picnic-bound family or the lone, harassed citizen at all. times.- Yours, etc., J. R. HERVEY. December 16, 1952.