SIXPENNY DANCES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 375, 17 March 1932, Page 5

SIXPENNY DANCES.

They Sometimes Become Rough. A PROBLEM IN SYDNEY. (Special to the “ Star.”) SYDNEY, March 6. ' | Municipal councils in Sydney which are hard-pressed to earn a few honest pounds have reduced the rents of their halls for dancing purposes. It has - occurred to one of them, Paddington, r , that the terms have been too favourable, and it tvould appear from the ' nature of recent complaints that the council is justified in that belief. “ Six- , penny dances ” are held in the town t hall. ! A correspondent says:—“Anyone knowing Paddington will understand that some of these dances are of the ‘ Paddy’s market ” variety. There is much unrestrained action that may ’ not benefit the walls, or any part of the hall which it is possible to damage. ‘ Tap ’ dances are the rule there. ‘ Tapping ' leads to happenings of a sensational character. The partner of a goodlooking girl is tapped rather too often than seems just, especially if he has brought her to the dance, and impromptu stadium work often follows, with participation by the onlookers. “ It is in these circumstances that the Paddington aldermen have gloomily considered the effect of proclaiming that no dances may be held at a lower charge for admittance than one shilling. Revenue may suffer, they think, but there will be less damage to the hail, and that should be sufficient setoff. Aldermen, however, have to think of personal popularity. They cannot afford to discriminate against the most numerous section of their supporters.”