LANGUAGE USED AT DANCE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 16 November 1932, Page 9

LANGUAGE USED AT DANCE

lIA WEE A JOCKEY FIXED £5. DISTURBANCE AT TOKAOEA. Described by the police as one of a number of hoodlums responsible for drunkenness at dances, Len. McMahon, aged 20, a jockey, was fined £5 for using indecent language at a dance at Tokaora on August 17 when he appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court to-day. On a further charge of disturbing’ the dance he was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Fourteen days were allowed in which to pay l the fine. • ..

Sergeant Henry stated that prior to the commencement of the dance the M.C. had announced that no smoking would be permitted in the hall, and that no liquor was allowed to be brought in. About 11 o’clock McMahon had entered the hall smoking and was spoken, to by the M..C. Later lie again appeared in tbe hall and had defied the M.C. by again smoking. This time McMahon had interfered with a piper, and when spoken to by the M.C.' (Mr J. Nairn) had become abusive and had used filthy language. The M.C. had then forcibly ejected him. As he was being put out McMahon had threatened to waylay the M.C. McMahon had returned to the hall a short time afterwards, apparently with the intention of apologising, but again he had been thrown out. “McMahon is one of a number of hoodlums who visit outside dances, ’- added the sergeant. “Usually they travel in free buses and crush thenway in without paying, generally finishing up by creating a disturbance. “Apparently there is a certain class who deliberately disturb' dances and there are frequent; complaints of such happenings,” proceeded the sergeant. “The trouble is, however, that many dance committees will not give evidence. and it is gratifying that there are M’s.O. such as Mr Nairn who make every endeavour to have dances properly conducted.” The sergeant asked that an example be made of McMahon, not only as a warning to him, but also to others of liis type. Mr B. J. O’Dea, who appeared for McMahon, said that defendant had I paid to go in to the dance. He had 1 desired to speak to one of the pipers and the M.C., apparently under a misapprehension, had seized him and i thrown him out. In the heat of the moment McMahon had usdfl abusive language in the porch of the hall, hut out of the hearing of women. When lie had gone hack to apologise for his actions his intentions had been mistaken and he was thrown out for the second time. McMahon was prepared to leave the town, and had a job waiting him in i another district. In view of liis age and the fact that lie would be looked after in future, counsel asked that be be given the benefit of probation. “I dont’ know that this is a case for probation,” said tbe magistrate, j“I want to tell you, McMahon, and : other youths that von cannot carry on in such a fashion. There have been a number of cases of this .sort in the district and this disturbing ele- ! ment lias to be suppressed. The conduct of some youths at dances is very bad and I cannot understand such behaviour in the presence of ladies. _ In future cases I will have to consider imprisonment.’ ’