LIQUOR AT DANCES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4830, 15 May 1925, Page 2

LIQUOR AT DANCES.

A DEGRADING PRACTICE. SOCIAL REFORM NEEDED. What appears to be a growing practice. and a deplorable one. is the bringing and consuming of liquor by young fellows at dances. It is not suggested that the practice is peculiar to dances held in Paeroa only, but that the custom is' growing Hiere appears to be little doubt, and it is time steps were taken to stamp it out and bring the offenders to book. It seems almost incredible that a great many of the youths of to-day cannot get sufficient pleasure and enjoyment out of a dance unless they are well fortified with drink. It is with regret that it has to be recorded that there were several, young men considerably under the influence of liquor at the Oddfellows Ball, held in the local. theatre on Monday night last, and their behaviour and language was anything but what might be expected at such a function. Had it not been for the patience and tact of the M’s.C. • unpleasant and regrettable consequences ma.' - have resulted. ’I he chief offepdens appeared to be strangers who travelled by motor-cars from a distance and brought the liquor with them. It -is understood that in one car, parked not far from the theatre, were five gallons of beer, while from another in the same locality it was stated that whisky w’as being sold at £1 a bottle, and was meeting with a ready demand. Although the promoters of the ball prohibited _the taking of liquor into the theatre they had no jurisdiction over it being consumed around motorears standing hi the street. It is only fair to state that the local Oddfellows were in no way responsible for the drinking that went on. and neither were the offenders known to them. Young women can assist, very material lv in stamping out this objectionable habit by definitely refusing to dance with a partner who had ob\ iously taken liquor. Man generally is a vain being, ami nothing would hurt his dignity and vanity more than to be 1 refused by a fair partner.

Young men are advised to tase warning and realise that a public dance, or hall, is not the place for promiscuous drinking and horseplay, and that such behaviour, at local dances at any rate, will not be tolerated. in future.