LONDON NIGHT LIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1929, Page 6

LONDON NIGHT LIFE

LORD BYNG’S CLEAN-UP

LONDON, September 2

The successful campaign by Viscount Byng, the Metropolitan Police Commissioned, against the alien proprietors of the London’s underworld clubs has Completely changed the night life of the West end of London.

Many people are under the impression that the suppression of dozens of undesirable clubs has emptied the V est End of its former nightly patrons. This is not the case.

At present thousands of people enjoy themselves oy dancing and dining in the early hours of the morning, but the profits are reaped by people who pay rates and taxes and conduct their establishments in a manner commended by the law.

Dozens of night clubs, where high prices were charged for noxious beverages early in the morning have had to dose their doors, and persons who anticipated raids by the police have vacated them or turned then into allnight coffee shops. $ For some time these coffee shops were rendered very profitable because “fruit machines” were installed and the shillings which night revellers copiously emptied into them more than paid the expenses of the staff and left a good profit for the proprietors. Some of these machines were showing a profit of up to £SO a week each.

Lord Byng recently gave a warning that prosecutions would follow if the machines were not dispensed with.' Subsequently visits were paid to the shops and Die machines were confiscated. • MORE DEPORTATIONS. The application of ex-Sergeant Goddard for the return of the £12,000 which was found;' in his possession at the time of his-arrest will be continued next month. The conclusion of this case will, it is anticipated, result in more aliens being deported from London. A small number of night clubs still remain in the West End unhampered bv the police. This is because they are run in strict observance of the law. The police alone have not performed all the work which has finished the activities of undesirable aliens in the West End. Officials of the War Office, particularly the Military Intelligence Branch, and also of the Home Office, have rendered much assistance In bringing about convictions, by furnishing evidence which they obtained during their visits to the West Bud.