BAN ON BLUEJACKETS AT CABARET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 10

BAN ON BLUEJACKETS AT CABARET

Minister of Defence Interested MANAGER COMMUNICATED WITH interest in the position arising from the ban placed on the entry of sailors from H.M.S. Achilles to a Wellington cabaret this week has been taken by the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, who yesterday communicated with the manager of the cabaret for an explanation of his attitude. Conversing with the manager, Mr. F. Carr, the Minister pointed out that iu times of war we were largely dependent on the navy for our defence, and said that ic seemed unfortunate if the men in the navy were to be deprived of social pleasures during peace, lie mentioned that generally speaking there was a greater degree of discipline to be found in the navy than among the ordinary civilians, as that was a very strong part of naval training. Furthermore, if any case of misbehaviour was noticed it had only to be reported to the authorities and it would be properly dealt with. It was made quite clear by Mr. Carr that in placing the ban on the admission of bluejackets iu uniform he had absolutely no complaint to make against the character of the men. It was, he informed the Minister, his hope that the position might be different by the time the Achilles returned to Wellington iu January. He intimated that he intended consulting his landlords on the question aud would be willing to abide by the attitude they adopt. Mr. Carr intends to communicate with the Minister again to-morrow, when the matter will be further dis cussed. Bluejackets at Cabarets Sir, —To read the letters regarding the exclusion of sailors in uniform from a cabaret, one could be pardoned for thinking the sailors sailed the seas for the love of it. I suggest it is their trade and they get well paid for their patriotism. Are they any more entitled to special concessions than, say, our men on the land. Would a farmer expect to be admitted to a cabaret in working clothes? How siliy. —I am, etc., COMMON SENSE. Wanganui, November 12. Restauranteur’s Rights Sir, —-in their baste to protest against bluejackets being barred from a Wellington cabaret, your correspondents appear to have lost sight of one obvious point, namely, 1 the right of. any individual to conduct his own business the way he pleases. No doubt our sailors are estimable fellows, but if the manager of a cabaret does not desire that his regular patrons should be obliged to mix with them, then they would be doing the more gentlemanly thing by quietly withdrawing aud saying nothing further about it. In any ease, there is no obligation, moral or otherwise, for us to keep "open house” to visiting warships. Out of the goodness of our hearts we extend a generous measure of hospitality, but this surely cannot be claimed as a right. Let our friends, the visiting navynien, maintain a sense of proportion.—l am. etc., EACH TO HIS STATION. ■Wellington, November 12. Beresford’s Way Sir, —The late Admiral Lord Charles Beresford knew how to deal with gentlemen who looked down on the naval uniform. Thirty odd years ago the busi. ness people of Weymouth objected to the Fleet being in during the “season.” His Lordship kept the Fleet away for a year. About the same time certain hotelkeepers banned naval ratings from all but the public bars. Those hotels were promptly placed out of bounds to the Navy, officers included. In both cases an apology quickly arrived. —I am. etc., F. W. (Ex-R.M.). What Kipling Thought

Sir, —1 am not surprised at the indignation which has been aroused by the exclusion of naval ratings from a city cabaret.

The manageress of another cabaret ife reported to have said that many of the regular guests “hold a definite objection to sailors in uniform being on the dance floor.” and that “it is the uniform and not the man.” Do those who discriminate in this way ever stop to think that the safety of the Dominion and- the protection of every one of us is in the hands of the men whom they evidently despise? Many years ago Rudyard Kipling wrote the following lines at a time when soldiers were excluded from the better parts of theatres, etc., in England. I hope you can find space lor at least a few verses :— I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but ’adn’t none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music ’alls. But when it comes to fightin’. Lord, they’ll shove me in the stalls. Yes. niakin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an" they’re starvation cheap. An’ ’bustling drunken soldiers when thev’re going large a bit Is five times better business than paradin’ In full kit. For it’s Tommy this, an* Tommy that, an’ — Chuck bin, out, the brute!” But it's “Saviour of ’is country” when the gens begin to shoot. —I am, etc., (FAIR PLAY. Wellington, November 12.