DISGRACEFUL SCENE

Evening Star, Issue 26031, 20 February 1947, Page 7

DISGRACEFUL SCENE

WOMEN RUSH CLOAK ROOM

POLICE AND SOLDIERS INTERVENE

(Itec. 11.45 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, February 19. Police and military authorities intervened to stop a spectacular disturbance which started in Cape Town’s City Hall last night as the Royal Family was leaving the civil ball,. says the associated Press correspondent. The trouble began when the women cloak room attendants left their job to watch the Royalties depart. Some women, impatient at the delay, helped themselves to their own cloaks. The news spread quickly through the ball room, and something like a stampede began. The disorder lasted for two hours. Women guests over-ran the cloak room, which was still unattended, and helped themselves. As more women arrived from the ballroom the confusion and excitement increased, until women were grabbing coats regardless of ownership. Women slapped officials trying to intervene. • Some hdsbands joined the fray before the police and soldiers quietened the crowd. The police are looking for at least one coat said to be worth £SOO. The Royal Family placed no bets when they visited Kenilworth racecourse to-day. They watched Menlo beat the favourite, Danny Boy, in the Cape of Good Hope Derby. This was a new race worth £7,500. The Royal party afterwards visited the Parliamentary Sports Club, and joined in the favourite game of the Nationalist Party members, Jukskei. The Queen, King, and General Smuts all tried tossing the 31b wooden clubs at the target posts. The Queen was the most successful, with one nearmiss. Their Majesties are later attending a civic ball for the coloured community.