PILLION-RIDING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 14

PILLION-RIDING.

♦ COUNCIL GRANTS REQUEST. FOOTREST TO BE PROVIDED. A deputation from a public meeting convened bv the Pioneer Sports Club waited on the City Council at its mectin* a fortnight ago with the request that pillion-riding on motor-cycle* should be made le S ai. At last nights meeting of the Council, the By-laws. and finance Committee reported on the matter as follows : The committee has carefully considered the representations niaae by deputation, and has decided to recommend tlie Council to accede to the request, subject to a suitable being provided on cycles used tor this purpose. The committee suggests that it also be a recommendation to iiie Government to include in the Mote Vehicle Regulations now under consideration the provision of a foot-rest on motor-cycles which are used tor pillioiiriding. _ . , Seats Not Required. Cr G. Manning said that in the clause no reference was made to the inclusion of a seat for the passenger. He considered that a seat should De made necessary, as making pillionriding safer. , Cr. M. E. Lyons: And play into the dealers' hands! .. Cr Sharpe asked it the Council would have power to rescind the clause at the end of twelve months if pillionriding was proved to be dangerous. He was willing to give the young men and their young ladies a chance to prove thev could be careful, provided the Council had power to repeal the clause if they were not. The - Mayor: Of course, we have that power. Cr. J. W. Beanland said he was opposed to the allowing of pillion-riding It was a backward step on the part 01 the Council. In England pillion-riding was regarded as a death-trap. In fact, it was said there that if a man wanted to get rid of his wife, he took her pil-lion-riding. He was sorry that the Council as a- Labour Council, was taking backward steps Cr. T. M. Butterfield strongly supported the clause. He had heard that in England pillion-riding was quite safe, contrary to Cr. Sharpe's information. Pillion-riding had proved itself safe all over New Zealaud, where it was allowed. As for getting rid of wives off the pillion seat, well, if a. man wanted to get rid of his wife, this was as good a way as any other (Laughter.) Cr. R. M. Macfarlane supported Cr. Manning's contention that the riding would be safer with a seat attached.

Or. E. McCombs supported the clause, but was not in favour of the seat which she was assured might be dangerous in raising the passenger higher. The suggestion that a seat be made necessary was then withdrawn, and the clause adopted. •'lf anyone sees this in the papers and goes pillion-riding to-morrow," said the Mayor "thev will be liable to prosecution. The Council can't help itself, as according to law it will be several weeks before pillion-riding can be legalised in Christchurch. People will be able to take their first ride about New Year's time."