THE DRUG TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 15

THE DRUG TRAFFIC.

LONDON J.P.'S TAKE ACTION. NIGHT CLUBS 11' ruin Our Own Correspondent.> LONDON, April 2S. While n certain evening paper is running a highly coloured series of article.-; purporting t«> be revelations of London's drii" traffic of a luridncss lliat i« laughable, and lending itself to neat parody by ii "Punch contributor, there is no doubt of the reality of its existence. The very number of tragedies reported in the courts arc sufficient evidence without the sort served up by the said evening journal, which is either stupid or venial, or both, for it describes places and }>er60iis with such n particularity that if tlie latter exist they will at once make themselves scarce in their known haunts, and so defeat the ends of justice after that journal's very explicit exposures.

That trade in dope sucii as lias lcil to several suicides of late is part of the life that centres round night chilis is an admitted fact So much is this the case that certain London Justices of the Peace who have seldom, if ever, taken jucli action, met to-day and decided to lend a deputation to the Home Secretary on the question of the conduct of night clubs in London.

A report read at the meeting stated thut a large number of the so-called clubs and dancing resorts in London were conducted "in a manner seriously detrimental to those who frequent them, and many, in fact, are a direct evasion of the licensing laws."

If anything were wanted to rub home their text it was done by the proceedings tfiat very day in Marlborough Street Police Court, in a case against a man summoned for permitting unlicensed dancing on his premises. Mr. P. K. Dines, who prosecuted for the L.C.C.. said he believed, after having heard the evidence, that the magistrate would be satisfied "it is as bad a case as it could possibly lie." He would endeuvour to prove that the premises were frequented by women of bad character, and that there were scenes of drunkenness and disorder on the premises.

There was some evidence that tlie premises were used by people who were drug takers, and there was at least one instance of indecency which one would have thought was incredible in a private or public dancing hall at the present day.

P.C. Hanks gave evidence of attending the hall and buying the usual tickets. On one occasion a number of women present were known to him as immoral, and lie had seen women in a drugged condition.

On a later visit he counted 30 men drunk. There was some disorder, but no attempt was made by the manager or JI,C. to restore order.

One man who was drunk pulled down the shoulder straps of his woman companion's evening dress, and left her exposed. Other of the lady's wearing appgrel was taken off. The woman did not seem embarrassed. She just laughed and readjusted her clothing. P.C. Harris added that the ticket oflice was in a tobacconist's shop, and the two tickets he took cost him £1 3/6. Had he been a subscrilier to the club, he was told ou one occasion, it would have liccn 6/ cheaper. The magistrate questioned the constable at some length about the woman he said '■ he saw drugged. ; Sir Henry: Where was »be!— Sitting down. "Did she dance?" —"I don't know.*' "How long were you watching her?"— • "About five minutes." "What became of her?"—"l don't *n_w." "How did you know she was drugged?" "She showed some of the symptoms. Her jaws were twitching. Sometimes she vent off into a dazed condition." "All in five minutes?"—" Yes." This prosecution is the second taken at the instance of the London County Council, which has determined on a campaign a-gainst those places.