THE LICENSING OF DANCING.

Kumara Times, Issue 977, 17 November 1879, Page 3

THE LICENSING OF DANCING.

[to the editor.] Sir—l remember, when a boy, a Church of England Minister who was not particular as to his morals, nevertheless pointed out “the narrow way to his congregation. Meeting one of his old attendants who had absented himself for a long time, he accosted him thus: “ John ! you do not attend church now ; what is the reason? The man, in reply, said : “ Well, you see, I am very fond of wine, but I like a clean vessel to drink it from.” Now, sir, it cannot be denied that the publicans bar and the gambling table, has been the means of ruin to a groat percentage of the inhabitants of the four continents, and there is not a person living in the smallest community but sees continuously with his own eyes this fact practically demonstrated. Yet we find men holding licensed institutions of this kind, that have such a destructive influence upon the human race, preaching aloud to their fellow-men tc morality,” that granting a license to a well-conducted house for the purpose of dancing (where,a person can enjoy himself) has a tendency to demoralise the rising generation. Now,

a person preaching the doctrine of “ morality,” should have clean hands, otherwise it becomes a farce, and himself a laughing-stock. As a Councillor, Mr Hanna has done good service to the Borough. But his acts in Council, and his effusion in your your last issue was out of place and carries with it a conviction that he would not-allow others to live by means equally as moral as those by which he gains his daily bread, A.t a previous meeting of the Council, he said the £unds of the Borough were suffering on account of dancing licenses not being taken out, they being £lO each, ami that pressure should he brought to bear upon those persons compelling them to take them out. This was done and the parties were refused. Now, what was the true ca.e.se of Mr Hanna opp <siug those liQfimjtopk&vtTg granted and becoming so incogs tent as to the Borough funds'! was it because he trembled for the safety of the morality of the visin'; generation? or was is becaure he saw in the'future the possibility of a few shillings extra bmug laid upon his own bar counter, I leave the public to decide.—l am, &c„ Consistency. [The scriptural quotation with which our correspondent prefaces this leli.er

is, for obvious reasons, not inserted • but there is little doubt from the whole tenor of the communication (hat the text of his epistle will be easily surmised.—Ed. K.T.]