ARE GIRLS "DOPED?"

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 236, 5 October 1928, Page 7

ARE GIRLS "DOPED?"

LIQUOR TAKEN TO DANCES.

MINISTER'S ALLEGATIONS.

RECEIVED WITH SCEPTICISM.

"SLUE ON AUCKLAXDERS."

That hip flasks containing one-third wine and. two-thirds whisky are carried to cabarets by many men in New Zealand is a statement attributed to the Rev. Lionel Fletcher at a meeting in Whangarei. He went on to say that girls who innocently accompanied such men in cars, and were induced to have a spot, became victims, as they were under the impression that they were merely drinking wine. He averred that he had ample proof that his statement was correct. "No importance can be placed on Mr. Fletcher's statement," said Mr. N. W. Loveridge, manager of Dixieland. "Mr. I letcher finds fault with everybodv, with hotels, and with every class of sport. He is against every person who does not see eye to eye with himself. I think his statement is a slur on the character of Aucklanders. The statement is really tantamount to saying that the community is over-run with unscrupulous blackguards who deliberately 'dope' girls for their own illicit purposes. people who care for amusements, I am sure, are quite capable of guarding their own morals." Bishop Clearv said he had no direct evidence of what went on at cabarets or dance halls, but he had ascertained from reliable sources that a considerable amount of "spotting" was indulged in as far as dances were concerned, but he could not say what the mixture was. "You can quite understand," he added, "what my views are, holding the opinion I do on the temperance question. Indiscriminate drinking at dances must certainly have a detrimental effect on the character of any girls who so indulge." Sister Pat, of the City Mission, said she had not come in contact with anything of the nature described by Mr. Fletcher. There had been no complaints made to her. She had heard of girls drinking at social gatherings. Perhaps there was too much of it, but she was not in a position to say anything from personal knowledge. Other social workers and churchmen who were asked to express an opinion stated that nothing of the nature suggested had come under their notice. One eminent divine said it had to be remembered that this was election year, and statements of the kind brought under his notice could be looked for on the eve of the liquor poll. He was not inclined to think that our men folk were so depraved as to "dope" the girls. That was a criminal offence, and deserved severe punishment. There were criminals in every community, but the statement made was far too sweeping, and no doubt was grossly exaggerated.