“DISGRACEFUL DANCE"

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6849, 2 March 1929, Page 13

“DISGRACEFUL DANCE"

LITTER OF BROKEN BOTTLES STIR IN MELBOURNE Melbourne seems to be mildly stirred by reports of a disgraceful dance held in the Brighton Town Hall in aid of the Million Shillings Fund by the Old Girls of the Firbank Church of England Girls’ Grammar School. In his report a police sergeant states: — “I must reluctantly report on the disgraceful conduct of persons of both sexes alleged to have been associated with the Old Girls of the Firbank Church of England Girls' Grammar School, who had the hall granted to them on Saturday, September 15. “Early in the evening I noticed the cars parked in front of the Town Hall in a state of disorder. Most of them were without lights. I had the lights switched on, and conferred with Mr. Woodward, the caretaker of the hall, and arranged with him to prevent a large quantity of liquor from being carried into the hall. “Beer Drunk In Streets”

"Later, out in the cars and streets, the drinking of beer and other liquor was freely indulged in. On Sunday morning from the Town Hall up to and in front of St. Cuthbert’s Church, a shameful spectacle was presented. There were broken beer bottles, empty ice cream pots, wraps and other papers which had contained fish and chips all over the place. I moved couples from St. Cuthbert’s School enclosure and action before the local Court of Petty Sessions is pending on charges of indecent behaviour by members of the ball party.

“I must say that there were a few respectable members of the community present, but they were in the minority.”

Headmistress Replies The headmistress of Firbank (Miss Cameron) said that prominent citizens of Brighton who were present at the dance, and remained to the end, freely said that the conduct obtaining throughout the proceedings in the hall was most exemplary. No evidence of the slightest breach of good taste and decorum was evidenced throughout the whole proceedings. The cars were parked under the supervision of parking officials, who collected a fee of Is a car and watched them during the evening. These men instructed car drivers to turn off their lights. The cars were parked in an orderly manner.