MERRY YOUNG FELLOWS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 11

MERRY YOUNG FELLOWS

SCENES AT A DANCE HALL LIQUOR SUPPLIED FOR SUPPER. SECRETARY HEAVILY FINED. . ■ (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. The supplying of intoxicating liquor at dances as part of the refreshments paid for by the admission fee is against the law, and several successful prosecutions have been brought in Hamilton against secretaries of dance committees during the past few months. To-day at the Police Court the hearing of a charge against Charles P. Harrington, secretary of the Eureka Tennis Club, of unlawfully supplying liquor at the club’s dance at Eureka Hall was resumed. It "was shown .that a number of youths aged from 16 tn 19 years were supplied'with liquor at the dance, where 20 gallons of beer was provided, of which 18 gallons, was. consumed.' The admission fee was 3s for men and Is b’d for women. During the evening several young fellows persisted in dancing with their coats and hats on and jostling other dancers. Two of the youths fell on the door, and finally all four were ejected. Harrington said he did not know it was an offence to supply liquor at a dance in this way. It was a common practice in the Waikato. The magistrate said the evidence disclosed a disgusting state of affairs. The' committee,'with a desire to collect funds for the tennis club, got in a large quantity of beer and .proceeded to hand it out to all and sundry, .some of those who received it being little more than children of 16 and 18 years of age, who : would not have a chance of getting i liquor in a licensed hotel. When a com- j mittee was found being a party to fill- j ing up young people with drink it be- i canie a case for an example penalty. I Defendant was fined £lO and costs. :