DANCE “CURFEW”

Evening Star, Issue 22952, 9 May 1938, Page 7

DANCE “CURFEW”

VILLAGERS ANGRY Villagers in 67 South Dorset parishes are asking each other, rathe* irritably: Why should dancing stop al 1 a.m.? ' . , For, on© .year all dances with.a wid«! rural area must end by 1 o’clock. Dorchester County magistrates do* cided on the “ curfew ” at, the annual licensing sessions recently. , A And that was after they had - congratulated villagers on 12 months' of good behaviour, with only one case .of drunkenness. , .. Indignant folk of the rural area da not see why they should -ston +. up socials at 1 a.m. while Dorchester can , keep going until 3 a.m. Townspeople ar<s sympathetic, too< The informal atmosphere of a village “ hop ” has made these events pppu< Jar. The magistrates have been asked ta grant new music and dance licenses for 35 village andi church halls. Soma applicants asked that dancing miglik go on, as before, until 1.30 or 2 a.m. Mr E. R. Sykes announced the' Bench decision that it was better ta have a standard “ closing time,” and that it should be 1 a.m., - After a year, if any special reasons could' be brought for extending hours,' the Bench would consider them, he said.