DANCE LICENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 7

DANCE LICENCE

EAELT SETTLERS' HALL

PROTEST BY WOMEN

A protest against the reopening of the Early Settlers' Hall as a cabaret was made by a deputation representing the Women's Social Progress Movement, whir'a waited on the Bylaws Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon. Miss Mary M'Lean (president) said that they came on behalf of its executive to ask the committee not to rocedo from the position taken up at the ]ast meeting of the City Council, when it was recommended that a licence be not renewed. When representatives ef the Women's Society approached the former Minister of Justice (Mr. T. M. Wilford) to bring about a better state of affairs in cabarets and dance halls, they were toid it was a little late* in the session, but that boroughs and city, councils had powers they wero not using, and could refuse licences where the management was nor satisfactory. They acted on that suggestion, and representations made to the recent Municipal Conference calculated to improve matters were favourably received. They hoped that the Capital City of the Dominion would now give a lead to all other councils. It had the opportunity. The reputation of this particular cabaret had reached them long ago. They had had complaints from residents in the neighbourhood, from the matron of the Nurses' Club nearby, and representations had also beeu made by the secretary of the Borstal Association, and even by members of the Police Force. The matron of the Nurses' Club said that the drinking and noises were dreadful, and that the nurses were not able to get their necessary rest through the disturbances in the street. The police were much handicapped because they had no right of entry unless tho drunkenness and rowdiness were such that they were sent for. The matron of the Nurses' Club had told her that she knew of seventeen convictions in connection with the cabaret. The chairman of the Bylaws Committee (Ml*. M. F. Luckie) said that the tenants referred to by Miss M'Lean had been put out. Miss M'Lean said that there had leen quite recent occurrences. The matron of the Nurses' Club, .and one of the nurses also, had told her that not only were the night noises objectionable, but in the morning there were ■whisky and other bottles on the windowsills. 'Mr. Luckie said that the hall had been closed down as a cabaret since December. A LEAD TO OTHERS. Miss M'Leansaia that the City Council could give a valuable lead to other todies. Its actions might even influence Auckland and southern cities. There was the harm done to young men and women to set against a loss of income, and she thought that the proprietors should be able to adjust matters, as the place could be closed as a cabaret without remaining a dead loss. From the human point of view, however, the loss was as nothing to s the benefits that would result from closing it as a dance hall. Councillor H. A. Huggins said that the City Council had twice refused to renew the licence. Councillor W. T. Hildreth said that the whole matter had been "very fully ■fliscussed by the council, and he could Siot sec a possibility of the licence being renewed. Mr. Luekie said the committee was obliged to the deputation for strengthening tho hands of the council, which had already refused a licence. Having received a report from the police condemning its issue, it did not seem likely that the council would grant a licence as long as the.police attitude ■remained the same. It had been known that danco' halls were a source of annoyance to residents, but it was the first time they had learnt that this one was an annoyance to the Nurses' Club. In justice to the Early Settlers' Association, he must say that they had reports to the effect that the management of the hall since September had produced fewer complaints, and it •was that which, induced the council to give the new management a chance. The licence was turned down because of reports Received from the police. What_ they had said would receive duo considera-tion-by the committee.