BLEAK WEEKENDS FACE LEVIN'S YOUNGER SET

Chronicle (Levin), 19 November 1949, Page 4

BLEAK WEEKENDS FACE LEVIN'S YOUNGER SET

\ ... ■.■■■! What shall we do today? Where shall we go tonight? This is the problem of Levin's younger set every weekend and public holiday. They say they are faced with two. alternatives othsr than roaming the streets— staying at home or seeking entertainment in another town. The large numbers which can- be observ'ed boarding buses for Palmerston North and other nearby centres seem to indicate that the latter is the most popular decjsion. '

It may be argued that no great haim can result from our youth seeking their entercainment elsewhere, Levin being at that awkward stage in a town's development when it would be un'econ-. omic. for private enterprise to establish any large-seale places of amusement. It must be recognised, however, that the consistent -migradon of young people to dance halls and picture theatres in other towns makes for the creation of a new • circle of friends and a more attractive environment, eventually leading to their taking up employment and . possibly marrying and settling there. Hence much needed citizens are lost to the town: What then is the answer? Your newsman realised that here was a very wide and possibly controversial subject, so he approached for his views the people mostly concerned — Levin's young people, or at least a cross section of them. * Need For Skating Rink. The result of these inquiries showed that what a large proportion placed as a first priority was the establishment of an indoor or outdoor skating rink. Next in popular favour was the need for a second picture theatre, more dances, the linking of Levin with Waitarere and/or Foxton beac-hes by an adequate bus service on Sundays, Saturdays and holidays, the, development of Horowhenua Lake to provi'de for yaehting and tooating clubs, a broader outlook , on Sunday sport and a community ! centre, perhaps incorporating the- ; present Film Society, Little Thea- : tre Society, Art Society, Music Club i and other such excellent bodies, and providing after c'hurch activj i.y on- Sunday nights, possibly in rotation.

Here are a few of the opinions in detftil: — Office girl: Lately if we want to go to a dance we have to travel' to Manakau, Ohau or Palmerston North. I like going to the dance cccasionally, but am not keen about the others. The parents of some of my younger friends don't like them going outside the town to dances and if they are held in Levin we can all go together. Young man of 18: We have a good dance hall here but the price for its hire appears to be too high. There has hardly been a public dance there since it was done up. There are too many young people roaming around Ihe streets on Sunday afternoons. There Should be a community centre or a Y.M.C.A. where young people can have games and music and organised trips and picnics to our beauty spots. The beach is only a few miles -away, but it might as well be 50 miles because of the poor bus service at the weekend. Unless through a sports club, there is no way of meeting other young people who arrive in the town. Office girl: I have had skates

for a long time now buts, "never get the : opportunity to ' use 'therri. . I think the' Borough Council should ahow for a skat'ing rink at the domain. Yourig' • children, too, could benefit. Playford Park would he suitable, too, but it is rather a long way from the town. It gets very dul! here at the.weekends. An apprentice: There is nothing to do 'here at the weekends, particularly on a Sunday, when if you indulge in sport you are ■criticised! I think that providing church service times are not used for sport, no harm is done. Driver: It is certainly hard to fill in time here at weekends. I'd like to see a yachting club started or a boating club. It is not every town which has a lake at its back door. Bank clerk: It daes not worry me now, but when I first came here I used to be pretty bored at weekends. Sundays are very dead in Levin. We have some good toeaches handy to town, but young chaps cannot afford to run cars out to them. Bank clerk: I hear it is rather expensive for committees to run dances in the Regent Hall now, but outside dances always have claimed a lot of our young people in the past. A commUnny centre would be a good idea if the people would support it. Already there are the Piayreaders, Film Society and Arts Society, and not many young people seem to attend those.

Running Dances Is Expensive. Dance band leader: Running a dance in the Regent Hall is an expensive business for a committee. First ihere is the £6 for the hire of the hall and supper room, a local orchestra would. cost about £6 or £7 as they have no travelling to do, but outside orchestras are very expensive. Supper, too, is a big item taking at a minimum £6 for about 200. I think 'that actually is a very low estimate. An admittance charge of from 2s 6d to 3s 6d does not allow for profit taking the figure at 200, and 100 couples is a good average. I play at more dances outside Levin than in it, going as far south as Paekakariki. ; Other people interviewed expressed similar views. Some, however, were inclined- to the belief Ihat more young people should take an interest in what was already offering in the town, and at weekends the local tramping club. When a representative of the Levin Borough Council was approached in regard to the Regent Hall, the comment received was that over £800 had been spent in renovations to the Regent Hall this year and in view of the faeilities it was a reasonable price and in keeping with hall hire prices in other centres. The maintenance and cleaning fees also had to be met by the council.