LIQUOR AT DANCES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 257, 10 November 1939, Page 3

LIQUOR AT DANCES

FORBIDDEN BY LAW NO SUPPLIES IN CARS iii’FEJCIOTS OF AMENDMENT According to a recent police statement in connection with the recent Statutes Amendment Act amending the. Police Offences Act, dealing with drinking at dances, the police have been given wide powers for the purpose of stamping ,out the practices the past. Drinking in cars in the vicinity of a dance hall also is to he stopped. Although no definite distance from the hall was stated other than “in the vicinity of a dance hall,” it is understood to mean that the policehave power to. investigate the comings and goings of dlnnco patrons to vehicles parked within a distance of the function. In effect, a person is debarred from, drinking at. a dance, in a car parked near a dance, having liquor in his possession even if he lias not been drinking, or leaving a dan.ee to make use pf a source of supply anywhere in the vicinity. Included among the wide powers given to the police is the right to search any vehicle concerning which their suspicions are aroused. Private Dances Not included “This section is not intended to apply tot private dances, such as thesegiven on the occasion of a wedding, birthday, or eoming-of-nge dance, providing that no charge is made lor admission to the party or dance hall,” the statement continued. The pi ovi.si.oins of the new amendments are as follows: (1) Every person when having control or management of any dance being hold in any hall, supplies intoxicating liquor to any pej’son in the ball, or permits liquor to be taken or consumed in the hall, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £2O. (2) Every person who. while a dance is being held in any hall, drinks any intoxicating liquor in the hall, or has any liquor in his possession or control in the hall or in the vicinity of the hall, or supplies liquor to any person in the hall, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a line of £lO. Wide Definition cf Vicinity (3) Liquor shall lie deemed to Ik; in the vicinity of a hall wherein a danecds being held if it is shown that-the liquor was in the possession or control ol any person attending or proceeding to attend the dance, or was consumed or intended for the consumption of any person so attending. (4) Any constable' who has reason To suspect that there is any breach by any person of the provisions of this section in or in the vicinity oi a hall where a dance, is being held may without warrant enter the hall, or any place in the vicinity thereof, examine same and .search for intoxicating liquor therein and may seize and remove any liquor found! therein find the vessels containing the liquor. Any liquor so seized in respect of which any person is convicted ol an offence under this section, together with the vessels containing the liquor, shall he forfeited to the (Town. .5) Nothing in this section shall apply j n relation to any liquor in any licensed premises or in any dwellinghouse. “Hull” means any Imilding where anv public dance is held or where an\ dance is held to which admission is obtained on the payment of subscriptions, either in money or by way of suppling refreshments, and whether on general or individual invitation, or ctheiwise.