DRINKING AT DANCES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 14

DRINKING AT DANCES

•Press AsBociation.)

"Police More Or Less In League With Kotelkeepers" CLERGYMAN'S VIEWS

(By Telegraph—

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A statement that the suppressioh of drinking at public dances was a difficult proposition because "the police were more or less in league with hotelkeepers ' was made by the Rev. L. W. Rothwell, of Springfield, when the question of di-inking at dances and its infiuence on the evil of abortion was under discussion at this morning 's meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery. Approval of the Government's action in having an investigation of the incidence of criminal abortion was expressed by the Presbytery. a reeoinmendation being broaght down by the Rev. John Roberteon, on behalf of the Publie Questions Committee. The recommendation stated that the report of the committee of inquiry was evidenee of the interest taken by the Government in a grave social evil, and it could be assured of the isupport of the Presbytery in any action calculated to reduce the evil and to encourage the development of public opinion condemnatory 'of the practice and of sexual immortality to which abortion so frequently foilowed as a sequel. The recommendation ' that official steps should be taken to suppress drinking at dances was brought down, said Mr Robertson, because it was held to be the underlying cause for the demand for both contraceptives and abortificients. One dance could be instanced, said Mr Robertson, where there was a stream of people from the hall to "nearby pubs." If the Government promoted furtlier inquiry this point was oue that could well be investigated