CONTROL OF SIDESHOWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1931, Page 3

CONTROL OF SIDESHOWS

ELIMINATING 'UNDESIRABLES' MOVE BY A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. "AMUSEMENTS PURPOSES ONLY." Regulations for the better control of sideshows at public exhibitions were discussed yesterday afternoon at the annual conference of the Auckland provincial council of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The object of the regulations is to eliminate the gambling element and to exclude undesirable persons from the shows. It was stated that there was every likelihood of legislation being introduced on the lines recommended. The executive recommended that, for the benefit of affiliated associations, the following list of games be approved:— Box ball, darfc game (provided that the numbers are plainly visible, and that the operator be not allowed to throw for the players), nail-driving, weighing scales, houp-la (with suitable and legitimate rings that encircle the object!, shooting galleries, and any other game for amusement only. It was recommended that the following be not permitted in any showground of any affiliated association:—Swingingball game, all wheel games, with or without darts, bucket games, "red-white-and-blue," or numbered betting games. It was also recommended that the soliciting of subscriptions, sale of art union tickets, sale of recipe books, etc., be not permitted unless such sale is conducted from a stand allotted by the show management, and duly approved. In no case shall sideshows be permitted to offer money as prizes, nor shall money be displayed for purposes of inducement, neither shall "buyingback,, be permitted. No game controlled by the operator shall be allowed. Operators must conduct their business within the area allotted them by the association. In no ease shall "boosters," "gees' , or "rams"' be permitted to operate in connection with any game. The secretary of the association, Mr. W. F. O'Donnell, said it was necessary for the benefit of the public, as well as of the organisers of show-, that the undesirable clement should be excluded. He thought the association had initiated a scheme of reform that would have farreaching effects, and in all probability it would receive the approval of Parliament and legal enforcement. It was essential that licenses should be properly controlled, and that magistrates should have power to endorse them. There would be a registering body, which would ensure that the showman should be honest, and of good repute. A great deal of harm had been done in the past by the lax control of exhibition?, which had frequently been brought into disrepute by dishonest and disreputable persons. Showmen as a whole were honest and respectable people, and it was urgently necessary that undesirables should not bo allowed. The recommendations of the executive were approved, and it was unanimously decided to notify all affiliated associa"tions that they are required to carrv them into effect.