DRINKING AND DANCES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1931, Page 10

DRINKING AND DANCES

MAYOR CONDEMNS PRACTICE. BETTER CONTROL DESIRABLE. Condemnation of the manner in which many public dances are controlled, with particular reference to the practice of drinking in motor-cars outside dance halls, was made by the Mayor, Mr. P. Thomson, at the meeting of the Stratford Borough Council on Monday night. “A matter which has for the past month or two given me considerable thought is the control and direction, or rather the lack of control and direction, of public dances or balls in the community,” Mr. Thomson said. During the past season a considerable amount of public comment had been brought under his notice as to certain Stratford functions with which the council was directly concerned as custodian of the town hall. His intention to speak on the matter had been since strengthened by the unfortunate occurrence through which a young married woman had appeared in the court of a neighbouring town and, in pleading guilty to the theft of an overcoat at a dance in the town hall of that town, had given as an excuse or reason to the magistrate that she had had a few drinks. It was significant, too, that in Saturday’s papers were reports of how a magistrate in Auckland had passed severe strictures on the supply of liquor to girls at dance halls and on their consequent disgraceful conduct. Mr. Thomson was sure that such happenings filled the mind of every thoughtful member of the community with grave concern. On speaking to officials connected with committees in control of local dances he had been told that the committees were not at fault but that the trouble lay with dancers who took private supplies of liquor and took their, women partners out from the hall into private cars to partake of such supplies. From what he had been able to observe it appeared that instead of the committees controlling the function, the dancers were allowed to control the committees —or to put it otherwise, to do as they pleased. “What is there to prevent committees refusing to issue passes for outside the hall, thus keeping the consumption of alcoholic refreshments properly controlled, within the building, should committees in their wisdom decide on such refreshments?” he asked. Further, there was no reason why the hours of the functions should not be under better control. They should be started at 8 o’clock punctually, programmes as in former days being issued to the ladies by the committee, punctuality being thus encouraged and the music and hall closed in reasonable time. At present many dancers wandered along at any time between 9 and 10 p.m. and the function was carried on to all hours. “I would ask committees to arrange for chaperons at all functions and parents to show a greater sense of responsibility by accompanying their daughters,” said Mr) Thomson. There seems nowadays a great lack of chivalry on the part of many of our young men at dances. After an item many of the men either promptly abandon their partners and get into a corner for a smoke or get their partners out to a car for a drink. No man with a proper sense cf chivalry or decency would do either.” Dancing was a delightful pastime and he appealed to committees to keep the recreation clean and wholesome. It should not be necessary for the borough council or the police to have to intervene.

Councillor C, Moore pointed out that committees in charge of dances were usually handicapped in their efforts to stop the practice of drinking in cars by th o fact that most halls were badly designed in the matter of conveniences, making it necessary for passes to be granted. The town hall committee was asked to report upon the possibility of eliminating the necessity for dancers to leave the hall.

SYME HUT COVERED.

THREE FEET OF ICE OVER ROOF.

Two Eltham residents, Messrs. A. Blackman and H. Murray, made an ascent of Mount Egmont during the weekend, travelling under ideal weather conditions, although hard ice was experienced all the way. Crampons were used to avoid the tedious work of step cutting. The Syme Hut was completely buried with 3ft of ice over the roof. It was a matter of conjecture just where the hut lay, and it took an hour to effect an entrance. At the summit it was found that the recent boisterous weather had caused particularly fine ice formations.

DAFFODIL SHOW AT ELTHAM.

DISPLAY OPENING TO-DAY.

This afternoon the National Daffodil Society’s show and the Eltham Horticultural Society’s show will be opened by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, president of the National Daffodil Society.

The display will be of a magnitude never before seen in Taranaki and several thousand daffodil blooms will be shown. One exhibitor alone has over 400 daffodils, while in many of the flower classes there arc up to 9 and 10 entries. Altogether the number of entries has exceeded the most confident expectation of the committee and it will be difficult to find staging room for all cxlr 'its even with the extra space made available. The juvenile section also shows . a notable increase. Whereas lot) entries were considered good on former occasions the number this year is nearly 400. With such a large display it is certain there will be a very large attendance at tho show, which will extend over to-day and to-morrow.

KAHOURI BRIDGE EUCHRE PARTY.

There was a record attendance at the Kalhouri Bridge hall last Friday for the last of the euchre parties after a very successfsul season. Twenty-three tables were engaged. The ladies’ points piize was won by Mrs. J. Bonner, with Mis. Loving runner-up, and the men’s by Br. D. Bonner, with Mr. A. Sangster runner-up. For the evening the ladies’ prize was won by Mrs. AVicksteed after a play-off with Mrs. J. Bonner, and Miss O. Johnson won the consolation prize. The men’s were won by Mr, AV'. Bonner 1, Mr. Eaton 2 (after a play-off with three others), and Mr. J. Goldsmith consolation. After supper the floor was cleared for dancing. Mr. H. AVaite supplied the music, and Mrs. Sinclair played an extra. Miss Hoskin and Mr. J. Parish were the winners of a Monte Carlo dance. Mr. C. B. Neilsen was master of ceremonies.