THE HIP FLASK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 9

THE HIP FLASK

GIRL VICTIMS WHO TAKE STRONG UQUOR j CONFLICTING OPINIONS / [ Special "Chronicle” Service ] AUCKLAND, Oct. 5. Speaking at Whangarei the Lionel B. Fletcher declared many men in New Zealand, were carrying to cabarets hip flasks containing third wine and two-thirds whisky. Girls who innocently accompanied such men into motor cars and drank this liquor believing it to be only wine, tell victims to hip flask carriers. Many girls from good families had fallen in this way. Thc speaker ueclarcd he possessed ample proof to justify his words. “No importance can be placed on Mr Fletcher’s statement,” said Air N. W. Loveridge, manager of Dixieland. “Mr Fletcher finds fault with everybody, with hotels and with cvcrv class of sport. He is against every person who does not see eye to eye with himself. 1 think his statement Is a slur on tho character of Aucklanders. The statement is really tantamount to saving that the community is overrun with unscrupulous blackguards who deliberately ‘dope’ girls for their own illicit purposes. People, who care fox’ amusements, I am sure, are quite capable of guarding their own morals.” Bishop Cleary said he had no direct evidence of what went on at cabarets or dance halls, but he l:?d ascertained from reliable sources that a considerable amount of “spotting” was indulged in as far as dances wer« concerned, but no could not say what thc mixture was. Indiscriminate drinking at dances must certainly have a detrimental effect on the character of any girls who so indulged. Sister Pat of the City Alission said she had not coinc in contact with anything of the nature described bv “fr Fletcher.

Other social workers and churchmen who were asked to express an opinion stated that nothing of the nature suggested had come under their notice.