DRINKING AT DANCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 8

DRINKING AT DANCES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Considerable agitation is at present being displayed by various social organisations and latterly -by the bylaws committee of the City Council", on the subject of the drinking of intoxicants.in, and more especially out of, dance halls. May I suggest that before taking drastic steps the councillors concerned thoroughly explore other channels of remedying the evil. It says little for our common law if the minority responsible for disturbances cannot be brought to book without the convenience and liberty of the very large majority being encompassed. Surely, if anyone is creating a disturbance in the middle of Lambton Quay, he or she is approached and remonstrated with and the matter settled without closing the Quay to traffic.

Apropos of my. opening paragraph, may I suggest that an impartial committee be appointed to investigate the very grave allegations so trenchantly hurled at the youth of this city. I very much doubt whether some of the well-meaning citizens who are leading this "crusade" have been near or inside a dance hall for some considerable time. I can state with considerable emphasis that girls of this city who become intoxicated at dances are definitely in an infinitesimal minority, and to suggest that they constitute a "grave menace" is to grossly exaggerate the true facts. There are people who will drink more than is good for them and all the restrictions in the world will not stop them, but will merely prove irksome to the people who would like a drink and are prepared to leave it at that; and no matr terwhat the views of the several reformatory organisations that surely does riot exceed the rights and liberty of the individual.

In conclusion, may I urge those of your readers who are conversant with the practical and not the hearsay side of the question to endeavour to, quell the growing tendency to decry modern youth and circumvent the liberties they quite rightly enjoy.—I am, etc., E. E, YOUNG.