BLUEJACKETS AND SKATING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 4

BLUEJACKETS AND SKATING.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL MAKES INyUIKIES. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, August 25. Tho recent agitation caused by tho exclusion of some bluejackets from some of the skating rinks in Auckland was mado the subject of a letter scut by the Town Clerk to tho proprietors of tho rinks. The replies received by him were reported upon by the Finance Committee of the City Council last evening. The maiJii'ger of the Princess Rink wrote Hint a mender of the crew of 11.M.5. Challenger was refused permission to skato in tho rink on August 8 on the ground that ho was in uniform, but that he was told he would bo permitted to do so in plain clothes. Tho men were allowed vu skato when they pointed out whero they were from. As lady patrons objected to sailors on (ho (loor the firm could not afford, during tho short time (he warship was in port, to loso their patronage. They would bo willing to give the men a session free to themselves, and wished to refute any discredit to tho King's uniform or to tho sailors. Ilayward's Pict.iTo Entertainers, Ltd.. wrote that they could not jeopardise their business fur reasons of sentiment:, though they were personally sorry that circumstances compelled tho seamen's withdrawal

Dr. E. D. Sharman wrote that it was a rule of the lioynl Rink to make no distinction whatever in admitting persons of good behaviour as spectators, but it was also a rule not to admit on tho skating floor anyone who was not in ordinary decent civilian dress, except on such special occasions as carnivals. The question of the King's uniform did not enter into the matter. It was purely a question of the rules which had been framed from experience, and whicli had been found absolutely necessary for tho proper management of the rink. The council had also received a letter from Captain Gaunt acknowledging replies from the proprietors of the rinks, and expressing, his thanks. The committee recommended that the managers of the skating rinks be invited to confer with the committee to find somo method of overcoming the difficulty. The report was adopted without comment.