BEACH RACES CALLED OFF

Chronicle (Levin), 5 January 1948, Page 4

BEACH RACES CALLED OFF

MOTOR-CYCLlSTS COULD NOT START AT WAITARERE. A large gatherifig oi rribtor-cycle eiitliusiasts from Palmerston NOftli and. the surrounding district who visited waitafere Beach on Sunday to view a race meeting on the sands feturrie-d hoihe disappdinted, for the* function was called off by the organisers before the first race Though it was widely circUlated that the police had ordered the races to be stopped, it was stated. by Sergeant, W. Grainger, of Levin, ; today that this had not been the case. ■ - . The Levin police and district traffic inSpeCtdr had a'dVised an official ,of the Manawatu Orion Motor-Cycle Club, under whose auspices the races were to have been heldj that he would be r Unning a grave risk in permitting the racing of motor-cycles on the beach; as no adequate provision had been unade for the safety of \ *, oniookers, and the large numbers %/ of persons visiting the beach. The police and traffic inspector had asked for the production- of- some authority for the use of the beach by the club, but this had not been forthcoming, nor had at any time the police or Tfansport Department been advise'd that races were being held there. Sergeant Grainger said that all the police had asked was that adequate provision be made for oublic

safety, better supervision of the track and the observance of safety precautions. The decision to abandon the function had been made entirely by the club officials.