SAILORS ANNOYED.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 1

SAILORS ANNOYED.

BARRED FROM DANCES. A ICELAND, .January IS. Kxelusiun of sailors in naval uniform from attending certain dances in Auckland has given rise to no little . discussion and surprise. 'lt would he idle to suppose the matter is of small weight and significance. Ruth officers and men of warships in port feel indignant at what they regard an unwarranted slur on their character and behaviour, and the opinion is widely held among the civilian population that the drastic nature of the action calls for a. proper explanation. Contrary Lo iho general belief, the trouble is confined to only two weekly dances, both under the same mau.ugmont. When approached, the manager of the two dances in question declined to offer any explanation. He took up the attitude that, the conduct of the dances was his own affair and resented anyone telling him his own business. He staled there was no intention on liis part of casting reflections on all sailors, a great many of whom, he admitted, were most exact in their ballroom behaviour, but as a result of his experience lie had laid down the policy that no sailors should be admitted. and in his decision be bad the support of a. number of citizens. Beyond that be would make no explanation.

The attitude taken up towards bluejackets at those dances has uriquostionalily left a bad impression, and in the absence of the manager's explanation. would appeal' to he absolutely unjustifiable. Those in charge of other dance halls in the city arc emphatically of the opinion that the deportment and conduct of naval men at dances leaves nothing to lie desired, indeed a good many of them volunteer the view that the average sailor’s behaviour at a public dance is a. good deal more creditable than that of the local youth. The explanation is usually ihe same. The sailor’s discipline is almost as much a part of him on shore as it is at sea. Pride in his ship and his calling exercise a. strong restraining influence, and finally, enforced absence from shore for long periods at a time engenders respect and value for the company of the opposite sex which is quite frequently lacking in the languid, blase town youth. Tt is commonly known, moreover, that the type of sailor who regularly attends dances is not the ‘"spotting” kind. Those of the latter ilk reserve -their particular entertainment for masculine company. The class of sailor who haunts the bright lights of the city is a cheerful, steady type, aware that he is conspicuous, and sensitive that he is a good dancer. Any observer will admit that dancing among men on ships is a favourite pasttime in idle hours, and style and facility arc developed flint look particularly well on a dance floor.

What particularly hurts is the knowledge that it is the uniform which in the manager’s eyes must liar their.admit! mice. If a' sailor likes to change his naval uniform for " civvies ” ho meets no obstruction. It is only when, he presents himself at the door in the uniform of a bluejacket or marine that he is greeted with a firm refusal. Some of the men have taken the experience so much to heart that they have refrained from attending dances at all, which is a pity, considering they are welcome everywhere else. As it is the men not unnaturally feel that an undue reproach has been cast upon them. Tt is a feeling shared alike by officers and men, whose pride in upholding the honour of their service and the King’s uniform is traditional. Tn the interests of the New Zealand unit of the navy and the recruiting movement in the Dominion it is undesirable that a most ill-advised action should he allowed to go unchallenged and invite untruthful comment.