BAN ON DANCES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19152, 8 November 1927, Page 8

BAN ON DANCES.

ART GALLERY LICENSE. SOCIETY APPROACHES COUNCIL. .Requesting that the City Council reopen the question of its cancellation of the license for the holding ot" dances in the Art Gallery', the Canter urj Society of Arts has written to the Council asking that it receive a P iation on the matter. The letter, which was received last o\ ening, kncwiedged the Council's letter in reference to the cancellation of tne license for the Art Gallery, and sta c that the Society was established o\e forty years ago for the purpose 01 acquiring a permanent collection or pictures and of encouraging art locally bv means of exhibitions. The Society had, during its existence, adhered to its original objects, and had now xn its possession free of debt a valuable collection of pictures, which at present was under offer to the City of Christchurch under certain conditions. _ In the whole of its existence the Society had never presumed to have any exclusive privileges, and its membership had'at no time been restricted to any class or section of the community, the only qualification required of its membere being an interest in its aims and objects and the ability to pay one guinea per annum. One-third of the amount of the total received from subscriptions was set aside each year to provide funds for an art union to members, and the benefit of this arrangement to artists could not be questioned. The amount of funds received from members' subscriptions, after deducting the cost of the art union, was, however, not sufficient to carry out the most important object of the Society, which should Be the continued adding of new and suitable works to the permanent collection. In order to accumulate funds for this purpose and for building extensions, maintenance, etc.. the gallery had been let for all sorts of functions, including dances, ever sinco it was erected, the dances providing the most profitable portion of the revenue thus received.

The letter continued:—"ln dealing with the matter of the complaint regarding the conduct of people attending dances in the gallery, they emphasise the fact that no complaint has ever been made concerning the conduct at any of . these affairs as far a* the proceedings within the precincts of the Art Gallery premises are concerned ; but they cannot exercise jurisdiction over matters which occur on othex people's properties. They state that observations on the part of the Society's executive officers have failed |° discover any such offences as have lieen stated to have been committed on places outside the Society's property, and even should there be rare instances of such, which they do not admit, it is regarded as a matter for correction through the police authorities. The committee suggests that the matter of granting a license to the Art Gallery be reconsidered, and in furtherance of this object respectfully requests the Mayor and Councillors to receive the committee aB a deputation to confer on the subject."

Against Receiving Deputation. Cr. R. M. Macfarlane was against the Council receiving a deputation. He moved that the request go to the Bylaws Committee, in view of the Society's threat of legal proceedings. This would only be fair to the Council. Cr.. P. W. Sharpe seconded the motion.

The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) said the Council had laid it down as a principle that it would receive any body of citizens on a matter affecting the public. Cr. Clyde Carr moved that the Council receive the deputation at the next meeting. The Society had moved on quite constitutional lines, he said, and he did not think they should differentiate. Cr. E. H. Andrews seconded the amendment. The Mayor said there was no doubt a lot of discussion would take place, and they could tio it much better round the table. The Society was not asking the Council to receive them, but for a conference. It was difficult to hold the latter in open Council. Cr. G- R. Hunter said he waa not to the Council receiving the deputation, but the Society had ignored the - Council on a previous, occasion, when it had been invited to send representatives to a meeting of the committee.

. Tho Mayor suggested that the decision as to whether the Society should meet the committee or appoint a deputation to the Council should be left to the Society. Cr. Macfarlane was agreeable to this suggestion, which was approved, i

ROLLESTON STREET HALL. "In Deoember last," reported the By-laws Committee, "a resident of Rolleston street complained to the committee regarding the conduct of persons who attended certain dances which were held in -the Oddfellows' Hall, Rolleston street Action was taken by the committee, and the resident in question states that for a time an improvement resulted.' He now reports, however, that disturbances are frequently created outside the hall late at night by young men under the influence of liquor, yelling and using foul language. "The committee has referred the matter to the Superintendent of Police with ,a request that he take action regarding the complaint."