PUBLIC DANCE HALLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23930, 4 October 1939, Page 9

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS

PROHIBITION, ON DRINKING PROPOSED LEGISLATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. A recommendation that the clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill imposing prohibition on drinking in public dance halls and their vicinity should be allowed to proceed without amendment is contained in the report of the Statutes Revision Committee, which was presented in the House of Representatives to-night by the Chairman of the Committee. Mr F. W. Schramm (Govt., Auckland East) 'said the clause had been referred to the committee following a two-hour discussion on the proposal 1 by the House last week. The committee's report was adopted. The committee, Mr Schramm said, was unanimously in favour of the clause as originally drafted, because no amendment could be made without interfering with its real effect and purpose. The evidence heard by the committee was overwhelming that such a clause was required. The commissioner of police had given evidence in support of the clause, and his testimony had weighed greatly with the committee. It was shown that the evil of drinking at dances and in the vicinity of dance halls was prevalent, and had to be coped with. " The main object of the clause is to protect young people, particularly girls under 21 years of age," said Mr Schramm. " Many cases were reported to the committee of young women having met their deaths because of liquor consumed at dance halls. The committee went into the question with an ODen mind, and having heard the full facts, wishes to see the clause made law. I personally hope that the clause will be passed without amendment." At the, suggestion of the ActingPrime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) discussion was withheld until the Bill came up for consideration.