THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3, 1921. ENLARGING THE SHOW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4299, 3 August 1921, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3, 1921. ENLARGING THE SHOW.

By the report of the committee meeting of the Hauraki A. and P. Association which appeared in Monday’s issue of the “Gazette” it will have been noted that a suggestion to add horticultural and industrial sections to the bhow is being given close consideration. The two main difficulties in the way are those of finance and labour. In respect to the former it can certainly be assumed that horticultural and industrial exhibits would draw a much larger gate. The, latter problem would also be solved- by reason of the fact that a new section of the community would become interested in the Show, and from whose ranks many willing helpers would be secured. The proposal merits support because oi its possibilities of creating wide:* and more intense interest in the Show, and also because it.will make the Hauraki A. and P. Association’s Show better qualified to hold its own and make headway despite the multiplication of such fixtures in the province cf late years. Garden products, fruit, needlework, cookery, school work, and arts and crafts generally have their enthusiasts, and the securing of such patronage should certainly result beneficially to the Show as a whole.

DANCING.

The controversy in regard t the pastime of dancing which has been going on in the daily papers lately is one that is of interest to every community. It seems that the controversialists have in mind dancing as conducted ii> certain quarters and by certain types of people in the cities, and have little knowledge of whaidancing means to communities i’i country districts where the many sources of amusement to be found in the cities are not available. While there can be little doubt that a number of new war and post-war dances have neither the grace nor the modesty of the old-time steps, it cannot be truly said that dancing, in the general sense, is demoralising. Some people make dances their opportunity for going beyond the bounds of decency and good taste, but the inherent viciousness of such people would find expression even 'if they attended nothing more questionable than an educational lecture or a Divine service. There can be no evil unless it is in the mind, and if a person imputes immorality where there is none it is a case of “honi soit qui mal y pense” (evil be to him that evil thinks). Than dancing, it would be difficult to find a more healthful and invigorating pastime ; the rotary motion is peculiarly well-adapted to giving play to certain muscles that otherwise would get little exercise,' and the practice of dancing has from time immemorial been recognised as tending to give grace of carriage and movement, especially if learnt during early boyhood or girlhood. There are so many restrictions against the liberty of the subject, both legal and of the moral boycott order, that people are beginning to realise that they are likely to become a nation of slaves, and a revolt against these oppressions is slowly but surely setting in ; the danger is that the pendulum may swing too far in the opposite direction, which would mean license in place of liberty. There will soon be no pictures, no theatres, no dances—nothing but dull work and silly games. And evil will not then be lessened ; it will merely be driven underground and take on more hideous forms than ever. The words of the immortal Milton, the creator of “Paradise Lost,' are applicable :

“As the state of man now is, the survey of vice is necessary to the constituting of virtue. What wisdom can there be to choose, what continence to forbeai’, without knowledge of evil? He that can apprehend and consider vice, with all her baits and seeming pleasures, and yet abstain, and yet distinguish, and yet