DANCE HALL DRINKING

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

DANCE HALL DRINKING

HEW ZEALAND'S HYPOCRISY “ ABOVE BOARD 1H AUSTRALIA " [By “ Dxggee.”] Ex-servicemen who were in Sydney recently for the Anzac Day celebrations were interested in the remarks at Whangarci of the London business man who expressed surprise at the amount of drinking permitted in New Zealand dance halls. He said that young people here did not seem to realise the possibility that drinking in such, a manner in public was undesirable. The London man was quite correct as to the amount of drinking that goes on; where ho was wrong was iij saying it was “ permitted.” It is done in a “ hole and corner ” manner, the young people going out of the hall to dark passages, dressing rooms, and motor cars to consume liquor that is carried mostly in the pocket or in cars. Those who attended balls and dances in Sydney found a different attitude altogether. Drinking there was done openly and honestly, and one did not need to sneak out of sight and guzzle out of a bottle. As the parties arrived they were shown to a table, wKich they occupied in between dances during the night. Any liquor brought to the dance was placed on the table in .full view of everyone, and cordials to take with the liquor or alone could be purchased. In such circumstances, with drinking done openly, not nearly as much liquor was consumed as is done at a dance in New Zealand,