CYCLE TRACK RIOT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1930, Page 4

CYCLE TRACK RIOT

RIDER RESENTS BARRACK. I By Telegraph—Per, Press Association.* WELLINGTON, December 14QrL With complete suddenness and unexpectedness, a disturbance occurred in a section of the crowd lining the blinked cycling track at Petone at,theft 1 cone! vision of the Laykild Cup. event, on Saturday afternoon. Several bun- k. dred people istook agape. One of the cyclists who had just competed in tha * event went round the track, slowing ' down, and when in the traight again he appeared to ride directly into the crowd. The incident developed with a swiftness, preventing even the iinmediate bystanders* from grasping what was happening It seems tho* this rider finished in the middle of a group, tumbled down, and established contact with a' neighbour as he was rising to his feet, and he was promptly set about by others nearby.

The explanation of the incident seems to lie in remarks called out by a group of those on the banks as the riders were competing in the race. The competing cyclists were under the control of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and the bevy on the bank were' in sympathy, it is said with the New Zealand Union • f Cyclists. The rider who started the trouble objected, apparently, to the remarks which were made, and * e decided upon a reprisal at the conclusion of the race. It is difficult to find whether the remarks, either offensive or inoffensive were made by those on the bank, but they have nevertheless lodged an official protest. Quite a number seemed to join in the actual fracas, and the crowd naturally rushed to see what was going on. Police intervention brought the incident to a close, but no arrests were made.