SATURNALIA

Evening Star, Issue 18729, 3 September 1924, Page 6

SATURNALIA

SYDNEY ARTISTS' BALL. RIOTOUS INDULGENCE ALLEGED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Assoc 1 ation. SYDNEY, September 2. For the second year in succession the Sydney artists’ ball has provided the Press ‘and public with a subject of criticism and controversy. The ball was held in the Town Hall.

At the main function upstairs everything was orderly and pleasant, but m the basement, which was devoted to refreshments what is described as the hooligan element took charge, and, according to tho I’ress reports, turned the function into a saturnalia of drunken debauchery.

The police were called in by the artists’ executive in the early hours of the morning, and with difficulty cleared the basement of hundreds of revellers. There were several free fights and _ a number of persons were more or less injured bv whisky and beer bottles, which were recklessly flung around by drunken rowdies of both sexes.

According to the published reports many unauthorised persons gained admittance by securing ladders and climbing through" tho windows, while unlimited quantities of liquor were smuggled in. Four arrests were made —two for drunkenness, and two for being present with intent to steal. The controversy is now running high. 'The artists’ executive disclaims responsibility for the under-stairs proceedings which it charges against the Town Hall authorities and tho police for not providing a sufficient force in attendance. The police have prepared a report which is of such sensational character that its publication has been made a matter of Cabinet consideration. MATTER BEFORE CABINET. SYDNEY, September 2. It is understood that the police report on the artists’ ball covers cases of alleged gross misbehaviour, and that the whole of the trouble was not caused by those who secured unauthorised admission. After Cabinet consideration this afternoon the Chief Secretary (Mr C. W. Oakes) said that if things at the ball were as bad as the reports made out the credit of Sydney was at stake, and there would have to be a cleaning up. The question whether the police report will bo published remains in the hands of tho Chief Secretary, who is consulting the Crown Law Department whether there are grounds for prosecution in connection with tho supply of liquor. The two arrestees on charges of intent to steal were discharged, the magistrate considering that they were entitled to the benefit of the doubt. The Press reports state that numbers of women and men bad to be carried out of the basement helplessly drunk. DISCUSSED BY ASSEMBLY. SYDNEY, September 2. (Received September 3, at 1.20 a.m.) Tlie Assembly, on a motion for adjournment, discussed the artists’ ball. Members strongly condemned the alleged disgraceful proceedings and demanded the fullest inquiry, especially regarding the supply of liquor.