NOISY BANDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 429, 13 January 1933, Page 5

NOISY BANDS

LATE DANCING _ BOARDINGHOUSE KEEPER LAYS COMPLAINT WITH BOROUGH CONDITIONS OF LICENSES A complaint regarding the conduct of the Majestic Ballroom during earnival week carne. before the Rotorua Borough Council last evening, made by Mrs. J. Dowling.. She stated that ears parlced in front of - her house were damaging her business. The mayor stated that he had reeeived a complaint and had looked into the matter with the police. In consequence of this he had advised her that her remedy lay in an hpplication for a civil injunction. , Cr. Keane thought that dancing should terminate at midnight, hut the mayor did not think that the council could interfere. Cr. Keane reiterated his opinion that the borough should close all dances at midnight. Other councillors mentioned that the main cause of complaint was the starting of a dance after midnight on . a Monday morning. Cr. Tai Mitchell : "Aren't we supposed to be encouraging the earnival spirit?" Cr. Keane: "Not after midnight." Cr. Bayfeild: "Oh, you're getting old." The mayor informed the council that the whole matter was controlled by the by-laws. A license might be suspended or cancelled at the councll's pleasure. However, the council could not bring into force fresh conditions during the currency of a license. The council had to be very eareful in a matter of this kind. Should the council, acting on the complaint of Mrs. Dowling, suspend the license it might find itself cast in a suit for damages. This was especially so in the present case where there was a difference of opinion between two businesses. Cr. Coleman thought the council should look into the matter more c'oeply. He considered the council was attempting to evade its respons'bility, and thought that the council should do its best to assist her. Cr. Bayfeild moved that the mayGr's action in informing Mrs. Dowling" that it was a case for her to take civil action be approved. After all, the actions complained of by her happen- ; ; ed outside the hall. Cr. Mitchell seconded the motion. The mayor said that he had no objcction to Cr. Coleman's suggestion, but he had investigated the. case pretty earefully ai^d in the present state of the by-laws did not see how much could be done. Cr. E. T. Johnson suggested that a committee be set up to draw up new conditions for dance halls in view of the issue of the next lot of licenses. He thought that dances should not start after midnight, hut he did not think that the council had any right to impose conditions as to any hour of closing. . Cr. Keane moved as an amendmdnt that a letter be sent to the license© of the Majestic Ballroom advising bim of the complaint" and requesting him to moderate the music after midnight. This was seconded by Cr. Coleman, who suggested that the drafting of the latter be referred to the general committee. Cr. Bayfeild considered that the organiser of the dances should have ^ his side heard before any action was ; taken. Cr. Keane agreed to tack his amendment on to the original motion, This course was then agreed to. A further motion by Cr. Johnson that the general committee draw up new conditions for insertion in the ' next set of licenses issued was also earried.