HIP FLASKS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1927, Page 4

HIP FLASKS

DRUNKEN GIRLS AT DANCES. SYDNEY, July G. It i.s a coincidence tliat almost at the same time that the Rev. Lawson .March, an Auckland cleric, was diiectI ing attention to the “ hip-flask habit I among young men and girls at dances (in New Zealand, police and Ministerial officials were issuing warnings to parents ami guardians in Sydney about the danger to girls caused hv surreptitious drinking at dance halls. 1 hat undoubtedly the habit is widespread in this city is admitted, and there has been much concern in official circles iu regard to the evil which those in a position to know declare is growing to alarming uronortions.

The law at present forbids the consumption of liquor on premises licensed as places of entertainment, except wore special permission has been granted. But one high police official with knowledge of what goes on In these places, declared that certain dance halls in the metropolitan area

were a menace to Sydney’s' womanhood because of the drink distributed there. It is to the discredit of many of the young men of to-day.” he said, “ that instead of attempting to stop this kind of thing, they encourage it among their girl friends. So bad have tlio names of two or three well-known dancing places become that the decent • 'iris of the community have ceased going there.” This official pointed out that those places where intoxicating liquors were sold surreptitiously to visitors were raided whenever opportunity offered. The police, however, be said, had no control over those young men and women who carried supplies of strong liquors in their pockets and in handbags. “ The pocket flask,” ho declared, "is the greatest danger of nil. I have had ample opportunity of visting the Sydney resorts, and unhesitatingly say flint the danger is a very grave one and a very real one. Hardly a public dance is held without young women having to be assisted home. If our young women are to he saved from tlio evils ol iutomponuiec, if clear that prompt measures should he t; ,!; hv 'l;-.' ('■ •vernment to pass the ue.essary legislation to enable the police to act in an efficient manner. I | u > dangers of this growing habit have frequently been brought under our nnt ice, hut. in the absence of legislation, our churls to put it down have been futile, ’the records ol the Courts show that many a girl has attributed her downfall’ to a lirst false step brought about hv consuming liquor at a da iu e hall. The difficulty with which the police are laced is that they can take action only when those who are cairying on the reprehensible practice ~j •irropuiioi!.'. drinking overstep the mark ol decency.” Meanwhile, stirred by the statements that have been made, the Chief Secretary in the Stale Government CMr Mark Gus'ing) lias initialed proceedings for infringement of the law by j„.r,on3 who lake liquor to places ol entertainment. The Minister declared that lie was determined to do all in hi:- power to prevent the " hip-pocket brigade” from making drinking dens of lhe dance links. Curiously, while responsible people assert that the lnihit is on the increase

in Svdr.ey, people i:i similar positions in Melbourne are lertaiu that the habit is on the waio l . Probably the explanation is that there the habit came into popularity before it did in Sydney, and ha, now shed its glamour. Or perhaps il is due to the action of the dance-hall proprietors themselves, who say that they have men engaged to search for suspicious bulges in men dancers hippockets.