DISGRACEFUL SCENES

Southland Times, Issue 19345, 10 September 1924, Page 5

DISGRACEFUL SCENES

THE SYDNEY ARTISTS’ BALL. REPORT BY COUNCIL’S OFFICER. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, September 9. The report of the Town Hall officer in charge at the time of the Artists’ ball has been presented to the City Council, and fully endorses the previous statements regarding disgraceful behaviour. It says: “Many girls and countless men were lying around the corridors, and were mostly helplessly drunk and behaving in the most indecent manner.” Referring to the statement of the Artists’ Executive that the trouble was caused by outsiders gaining unauthorised admission, and unlimited and unauthorised liquor being allowed, the report says: “These crowds of shameless larrikins and larrikinesses were admitted at the main entrance by ticket.” In reference to the iiquor, the officer declared that he was sure most of it was brought in by guests. Men brought liquor, and he even saw women with flasks. He strongly repudiated the statement that the Town Hall officials and the police had failed to exercise proper control. But for them the trouble would have been much more serious. He shifts the onus by saying that the disgraceful scenes were due to liquor being allowed in and the unlimited sale of tickets to all sorts of individuals.