SIFTING A CHARGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1971, 30 January 1914, Page 4

SIFTING A CHARGE.

HAPPENINGS AT LYALL OAT.. The Reserves Committee «f tho City Council has boon at some pains to inquire into a charge of impropriety recently made against certain people nfc Lyall Bay..:- 1 This charge was mado by a correspondent to a Wellington paper. Mr. J. F, Atkins, president of tho Lyall Bay Surf Club, who had promised tho committee to make an inquiry into the matter, reported yesterday at somo length. Ho stated that as far as tie main charge was concerned— that a lady had intruded into a bathing shed as a. matt was about to dross, was without foundation. What had happened was that, ill a 'shed with two separate eompKrtments,' some men had been'dressing, whilst some ladies (including the wife of ono of tho men) were being entertained at afternoon tea in- tho resuscitating room. The result of his inquiries had proved that tho name of the wrong i club's shed had been given, and tho correspondent's charges had not been > confirmed. Mr. Atkins suggested that copies of tho by-laws regulating the übo of tho beach and the sheds should be [posted in prominent places, and that "beae.il patrols" should bo appointed (with distinctive badges) to help tho police and custodian in seeing that they were strictly enforced.

. Mr. tuejcio pointed out that as tho charges hud been made under a, nem-fle-plumo, .and the writer's identity had toot lieeii' disclosed, he did not see that the committee could go aiiy farther in the matter. He pointed out, however; that by allowing ladies to take ten, in tho shed the hy-laiv had been broken, |This bjvhvw provided that no female should ho allowed to enter a dressing shod or other enclosure set aside for tho exclusive use of men, ; In thanking Mr. Atkins for 'the trouble iviiich ho had taken, Couneillor Frost (chairman) remarked that it was tho duty (sf _th.o committee to f>eo that the proprieties woro observed as far as the beaeh fl-aa concerned. Ho asked that Mr. Atkins and his follov officers sliould assist the committee as far as they wore able. He (Mr. Atkins) could rest assured that copies of tho beach by-laws would be posted in tlje bathing sheds.

' After the reporters left the room the beach custodian (Mr. Miuifio) was Examined by the committee respecting tile case. • ••'•••• •