DRINKING AT DANCES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 3

DRINKING AT DANCES

PREVALENT IN EGMONT COUNTY. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL. That drinking Is being carried on at some of the functions held in some of the public halls within the county was freely admitted by the chairman and some of the councillors at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, when the resolution from the New Zealand Alliance was under discussion. One councillor went so far as to say that it was sapping the manhood and womanhood of the country. The council had no jurisdiction as the buildings were not. licensed by it, but the council decided to forward a copy of the resolution to all hall committees in the hope that some good will result. The resolution of the New Zealand Alliance urged local bodies in licensing dance halls and cabarets to make the granting of licenses conditional upon no intoxicating liquor being allowed upon the premises. In support the letter pointed out that the council no doubt would be familiar with the growing concern caused by the use of intoxicating liquors in connection with many social functions. The resolution was not intended as a sweeping indictment, but it was desired to materially strengthen the position of licensees jealous for the reputation of their premises and would contribute towards allaying existing conditions.

The chairman said the matter had been brought before him but he could not see. what action the council could, take as it did not license the halls. As a man of the world he recognised that drinking at dances was “getting over the odds.” He knew of . a certain hall where- after one function two drayloads of empty bottles had been carted away. Mr. J. S. Tosland, in endorsing the chairman’s remarks, said that he did not mind full publicity being given to his statements. The Pihama Hall Committee, of which he was chairman, had discussed the matter the previous evening and he regretted to say there was reason for bringing it up. Young people now travelled long distances to dances and indulged in drinking ‘ which, if not stopped, would affect the morals of the whole community. Young people of 16 years and upwards thought it bright and clever to appear “three sheets in the wind” and were, making a practice of running out after every dance to their motor-cars to “have a spot.” They considered that it made them men and women, but he considered it was sapping their manhood and womanhood. The council had a public duty to take a stand and make the halls safe for people to attend without being insulted. Mr. Collins agreed with what had been said up to a point. He had attended dances all over' the district from the age of IS years until a few years ago, and even now he went to a dance occasionally, and lie did not think the position was nearly as bad. as it had been painted by the chairman and Mr. Tosland. He thought he went to more functions than either of them. He had been to smoke concerts where the atmosphere was pretty thick, but he would say positively that at dances the position was not half as bad as it had been painted. Of course, he admitted there were isolated raises, but they would have them whatever action they took. The chairman said that at the last six or seven functions he had attended there had been five or six drunken men, and if one said anything he only received abuse. The trouble was due to “wasters who floated in from other places in the free buses.” . The chairman then moved that the clerk forward copies of the letter to all hall committees in the county. That, he said, would perhaps effect some improvement. Hall committees not affected by drinking need not take any notice.

Mr. Tosland seconded, the motion. Some of the other councillors agreed that the position in their districts was bad. The motion was carried.