Borough Council and Conduct at Dances

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 2

Borough Council and Conduct at Dances

POLICE ASKED TO ATTEND The question of whether the Borough Council should do something about keeping order at dances in the borough was raised by Cr. Watts at Monday night’s meeting. Cr. Watts said that there had been a fight at the Foresters’ Hall on Saturday night, in which a young man had had his jaw broken, and ho thought the police should be in control to prevent such occurrences, which, if they were allowed to continue, would get the town a bad name. The Mayor remarked that it was a very vexed question, and there was a lemit from Mosgiel to be brought forward at the next Municipal Conference, with regard to police officers being given wider powers for the control of public dances. A similar remit had been brought up at the last conference at New Plymouth and the principle had been approved by tho Government, but no action taken. The question was whether tho council should take action to revoke the licenses of halls where such disturbances occurred. The police h. no power to interfere inside, although they could prevent disturbances outside. Cr. Watts agreed that it was a matter for the police to control conduct on the streets. Cr. Brown observed that if one or two were locked up for the night it quieten them down. Cr. Watts moved that the police be notified of this case and be asked if they could be in attendance at dances, carried.