PUTARURU DANCES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 245, 12 July 1928, Page 4

PUTARURU DANCES.

STRONG COMPLAINTS. From Caretaker and Police. There were some verbal firework* at the last meeting of the Putaruru Town Board following complaints in regard to the conduct of dances held reointly in the local town hall. Mr. R. McLeod, hall caretaker, waited on the board and stated that the hall had been used for a dance after the pictures on a recent Saturday. When he came to clean up he found empty whisky and beer bottles and a certain amount of filth in the dressing rooms. Two forms had also been broken and he objected to such a state of affairs after he had already cleaned the hall up. In answer to questions, Mr. McLeod stated that the hall had been sub-let by the picture proprietor to Maoris, who had been responsible. Mr. Tomalin strongly urged that Mr. Brown should be asked to attend so both sides could be heard.

Later in the evening Mr. Brown attended and details of the complaint were explained by the chairman. Mr. Tomalin: Tell him everything just as he told us. Mr. Yandle: He has done. Mr. Tomalin (heatedly): Yes; but I mean put it strongly, the same as he told us. Tell him all about the muck and the whisky bottles. Now I am going to tell you that it’s nothing but a grievance from the caretaker. He has had Mr. Brown set from the start. Mr. McLeod: No, I haven’t. I’ll tell anyone to their face. I The chairman: Order, order; there is no need for heat. I must ask everyone to address the chair. Mr. Tomalin (quietly): Oh, I believe in telling them to their face. Mr. McLeod then reiterated the statements previously made. Mr. Brown stated that he started clearing the hall at 11.20 p.m., and before closing up made a tour of the rooms. He noticed some empty I bottles and also some beer or water . spilled, but no filth. A form had been I broken for a year. Mr. McLeod: It might have been j water. I didn’t examine it too close. The chairman: I have a letter from the police, but they complain of Frij day night. j Mr. McLeod: Friday night was all right and there was no damage then. The trouble was the Maoris had a dispute amongst themselves as to who was to pay for the hall, and the police took their money and handed | it over to me to pay out with. After Messrs. Brown and McLeod had retired, Mr. Neal explained that j Friday’s trouble would not be likely | to happen again, as it arose through a misunderstanding between the Maoris as to who had booked the hall. The chairman thought a mountain was being made out of molehill. Thenhad undoubtedly been some feeling, ! and it wasn’t fair to expect the caretaker to clean up a mess if there was cne. Stricter supervision would settle everything. In any case more details should be got from the police. Mr. Barr Brown: You’ll never stop them bringing whisky. In any case, what are we going to do about the caretaker’s complaint. It’s not fair he should have to clean up twice. Has the picture proprietor power to run a dance ? The chairman: I take it he has. In regard to the extra work if the hall were engaged every night in the week he would still have to do the work. Mr. Barr Brown: We should see what the lease says. I think it is let for pictures only. Eventually the matter was left in the hands of the hall committee with power to act after interviewing the police. *