DRINK AT DANCES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 291, 3 August 1932, Page 6

DRINK AT DANCES

MOTHERS' UNION COMPLAINS TO TE AROHA BOROUGH. COUNCIL. THE MAYOR SYMPATHETIC. The Te Aroha Borough Council has been disturbed by allegations made by the Diocesan Council of the Mothers' Union to the effect that there has been drinking at dances in that locality and a resolution was carried sympathising with the attitude of the union on the motion of the Mayor. Cr. Kennedy thought the Mothers: Union was needlessly alarmed. The evil did not exist to the extent believed. Since he had been going to dances at Te Aroha he had never seen a cork pulled out of a bottle. (Laughter.) There had once been a complaint about Elstow dances and a deputatior, threatened to storm the Mayor, whc had to make a hurried apology. The man who made the statement was not well for a long time after. Cr. Kennedy denied that there was much drinking at dances. He had seen no boy or girl the worse for liquor at a Te Aroha dance. It was being broadcast that drinking was going on and this was not true. The Mayor: Not by this Council. Cr. McMahon said he was entirely in agreement with the Mothers' Union, but if that body was in earnest it might show the council how the evil was to be dealt with. Drinking at dances did take place and if Cr. Kennedy did not see it he musts have

had tears in his eyes. Not only did drinking take place at dances at To Aroha but all over New Zealand. It wsa a blot on the country. There was no use shutting their eyes to the faet that drinking did talce place. The Mayor said he agreed with Cr. McMahon. Replying to Cr. Kennedy, the Mayor said he had not apologised for thc statement made about people returning from an Elstow dance. The stat A rnent was made by one who could wc'.l defend liimself.