DRINK AT DANCES

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 8

DRINK AT DANCES

WIDE POWERS OF POLICE Wide powers arc given the police to control drinking at oi’ in the vicinity of dances in the latest regulations set out in the Police Gazette. In effect a person is debarred from drinking at a dance, in a car .parked near a dance, having liquor in his possession even if he has not been drinking or leaving a dance to make use of a source of supply anywhere in the vicinity.

The powers given the (police to enable them to catch offenders are farreaching, including power of search of the individual or car used or suspected as being used as a source of supply. The words “in the vicinity” give elastic powers to the police and it is expected that the regulations will have the effect of stopping the mixing of drink and dancing.

Some of the most important provisions are: —

(1) Every person who, having control or management of any dance being held in any hall, supplies intoxicating liquor to be taken or consumed in the hall, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £2O.

(3) Every person who, while a dance is being held in any hall, drinks any intoxicating liquor in the hall, or has any liquor in his possession or control in the hall or in the vicinity of the hall, or supplies liquor to any person in the hall, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £lO.

(3) Liquor shall be deemed to be in the vicinity of a hall wherein a dance is being held if it is shown that the liquor was in the possession or control of any person attending or proceeding to attend the dance, or was consumed or intended for the consumption of any person so attending. (4) Any constable who has reason to suspect that there is any breach by any person of the provisions of this section in or in the vicinity of a hall where a dance is being held may with-, out warrant enter the hall, or any place in the vicinity thereof, examine same and search for intoxicating liquor therein and may seize and remove any liquor found therein and the vessels containing the liquor. Any liquor so seized in respect of which any person is convicted of an offence under this section, together with the vessels containing the liquor, shall be forfeited to the Crown.

(5) Nothing in this section shall apply in relation to any liquor in any licensed premises or in any dwellinghouse.

“Hall" means any building where any public dance is hold or where any dance is held to which admission is obtained on the payment of subscriptions, either in money or by way of supplying refreshments, and whether on general or individual invitation, or otherwise.