A SOCIAL EVIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20862, 19 October 1937, Page 5

A SOCIAL EVIL

DRINKING AT DANCES SHOULD BE MADE PENAL OFFENCE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 18. The danger constituted by liquor to young girls at public dances was commented upon by Mr Justice Reed in his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the criminal sessions, when he made a veiled reference to abortion, saying it might have some origin in promiscuous drinking at dances. He said the Grand Jury could make representations to obtain some prohibiting measure. The Grand Jury returned with the following recommendation: “That this Grand Jury strongly recommends that legislation be enacted, making it an offence to bring or consume liquor in any dance hall, and also that steps be taken to prohibit drinking in motor-cars by those attending such dance halls. Mr Justice Reed said the recommendation was very valuable and he .would see that it was transferred to the proper authorities. The judge’s remarks were made following reference to a charge of attempted rape. Evidence would be given, he said, that the couple met for the first time at a public dance, and drank beer before the alleged offence occurred. “I think you will probably agree that it emphasises the necessity for some sort of supervision at these public dances,” said his Honour. “Consistently one sees in the newspapers cases of drunkenness. Liquor is brought to them, by men as a rule, and much of it is consumed by young girls. In these days chaperons are unknown, and girls go unaccompanied to these dances. The dangers due to drinking in those circumstances are obvious. May not a more serious crime, which has been publicly discussed recently, have some origin in this promiscuous drinking at these dances. You are entitled, if you think it wise to do so, to make some representations in regard to it as to whether something could not be done to prohibit liquor being brought to these dances. The danger to young girls is obvious. The gradual lessening in serious crime in New Zealand was noted by Mr Justice Reed. There were only two cases for trial, but his Honour said this did not definitely Indicate an absence of crime in the district, as 19 persons had pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court since the last session. Twenty-one crimes had been represented in the last quarter. At the same time there were indications that serious crime was gradually lessening and that was a matter for congraulation.

The type of crime that was a familiar charge, the negligent use of a motor-car so as to cause death or bodily injury, was absent this session, but that did not show there was not negligence to the district, as there were no fewer than 12 cases on the civil list in which damage and Injuries were alleged to have been caused by the negligence of defendants. True bills were returned in all cases.