THE HUNTED CYCLIST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2122, 3 July 1907, Page 2

THE HUNTED CYCLIST.

ASKS THE USE OF FOOTPATHS

COUNCIL FAVORABLY DISPOSED Tho ltov. Oockorill, on- behalf.'of » .largo body of cyclist?,; on tho Borough Council lastj'nignt' to ask that the by-laws bo relaxed in.{jthen favour. Ho pointed out that tlio impassable state of tho streets drove cyclists to use tho footpaths, with the result that tlioy wore . pounced upon by- tho police and fined. Many had to uso. bicycles to got to and from business, and when tho roads were impassable they had no alteinative but to use some of tho paths. Ho asked whether tho Council could not relax tho by-laws and allow some of tho side streets to bo used by wlioolmon, wlioro tho roads wero in such a bad stato. A couple ot leot on i the outside of the natli could bo set I nßi'rln for their use, and with piopor

precautions it need not interfere with foot traffio. He thought the Counc 1 might give'the system a trial. f lho polico proceedings, in Ins were open to a good deaf of criticism. The Mayor: Defendants always think, so. (Laughter.) The rev. gentleman said that no had not boon caught on the footpath lately. The police had let the bylaws remain in abeyance for woeks when tlio weather was fine, but recently when the roads were in a vile state after the rains and cyclists were beginning to think some allowance was being made, the officers swooped down on offenders and secured a great “haul.” Could not the Council in an informal way suggest to the police to uso a little common sense in the matter ? AVhile the • roads were bad the by-laws would be infringed, rightly or wrongly, so why continue such a useless crusade. It was better to face the thing like reasonable men. The Mayor, said the Council would consider the matter, and the spdkes-

man withdrew. , ~ .. I At a later stage the Mayor said the I Council could not stop the police from! laying informations. . I Cr. Sawyer: The best solution of I the difficulty is to lay a 3ft tar track in each street as soon as wo can at- I ford it. I The Mayor said that at Rotorua portion of the footpath was used by cyclists. There was ample room foi both cyclists and pedestrians, it was only want of common sense to treat cyclists like niggers. The position had become so intolerable that wheel- I men were uniting in protest..

should not apply to night time ( Oil course not”)- A pat unit of Ins had I been injured by a cyclist on the path I at night. Why not charge a license I and put the money into tracks. The Mayor: Tracks would be no I good on our roads. . I Cr. Pettie: Why not intimate to I the police inspector that we don’t do- I sire the by-law enforced ill bad wea- I tiler? The cyclists have made out a I good ease. I would bo against allow- I ing the use of the paths ■at night j I or”riding anywhere without a light. I But men and women showing common I judgment and discretion should be al- j lowed a little latitude to go on the jiaths. . Cr. Somervell disagreed. Adults I might use discretion but brats of boys would run a person down and laugh at it. “I had it done to me,” lie added. (Laughter.) The Mayor: It is easy to see you are not a cyclist. Cr. Somervell: No, but I wouldn’t mind learning.- I would not object to a certain space on outside footpaths being allowed under proper restrictions. The Mayor: That is what. I advocate, say a space of two or three feet. Cr. Sheridan said if it were not for the Police. Offences Act the Town Clerk could grant permits to bona fide cyclists, but no matter what the Council’s views were they could not prevent- the police taking action. There was also a risk that any concession would be abused, such as by boys racing and accidents would result.

Cr. Whinray: We are getting the road roller now. . Perhaps something can be done with the roads. Councillors held out no 1 hope of improvement this winter. The Mayor read a section which empowers any-. Council to construct public cycle tracks. In his opinion the Council thereby had power to set apart portion of certain footpaths for cyclists’ use. Special tracks were absolutely useless on our roads as the traffic would swamp them. He was sure there was room on the footbaths outside the business area, such as Aberdeen, Palmerston, and Childers roads, and Stout street. If bells wore stipulated there should be no danger. Let people take the inside of the paths; it could be worked here as elsewhere. Cr. Williams said that many footpaths nominally 9 or 1 Oft- only had a yard or two'wide that was fit- to travel on. There was no room for bikes. Cr. Pettie: But our footpaths will he gradually improved. As the hour was getting late the matter was left over. The Mayor, in conclusion, recommended the Council to favorably consider the matter. On the whole the outlook for cyclists is improving.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. DISCUSSED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

When the Borough Council ivas asked last evening to vote £2O towards the expenses of a director of technical education for the Hawke’s Bay Education District, Cr. Wliinrav stood out as an opponent. “I may be a little behind the times,” he remarked, ‘‘but I consider there is too much of this kind of pap being pumped into our .youth. There is too much education; it is all cram, cram, cram. Subjects are crowded on the boys one after another, and when the scholars leave school they are too inflated to take their coats off, but loaf about in the hope of gettinf easy billets. These are not the sort of men who are' going to develop our country.” He admitted that science was necessary, but the tiling was becoming a fad. In any case, was not the Education Department- the proper body to pay the piper P What had local bodies who dealt with roads and drainage to do with it? If parents wanted tlieir sons to bo taught special subjects let them provide for it themselves. ' The Council already contributed £2O per annum to the. local classes. Was all this instruction effective? Wlw. when the plumbers were asked to sit for certificates not one came forward. Cr. Williams said he understood pupils were not coming forward very well. Why say they wanted more facilities until those at hand were fuly availed of? Cr. Somervell said this was not the fault of the instruction. He knew a good deal about the classes, and assured the Council that they had achieved sxilendid results. He instanced the enthusiasm and ability displayed by the pupils of the woodwork and other classes. A practical, technical knowledge of agriculture and kindred subjects would be of great benefit in such a district. As to the boys not caring for work-in these days the smartest men rose to the top and the untrained did the laborious work.

Cr. Pettio warmly supported the technical training. Ho pointed out, moreover, that a director was needed to organise and place on a better footin'' the existing classes. Cr. Sheridan said the Council had authority to make grants in aid. It was ho argument to say the opportunities 'were not availed of. A more general knowledge of the benefits accruing would soon remedv that. It was the duty of public-spirited men to place all possible facilities for advancement within the reach of the rising generation. The Mayor also spoke in support, contending that, in regard to ruralpursuits espeeiallv, a better knowledge by means of scientific instruction was essential. He moved that the £2O be granted. Cr. Sheridan seconded. Cr. Sawyer' said that anyone coidd not attend a lecture of the kind proposed without realising the permanent good they achieved. The motion was carried.