Night Life In Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 34, 3 May 1927, Page 8

Night Life In Auckland

Citizens Do Not Agree With Disgruntled Tourists

JS Auckland dull?. Are her citizens somnolent and self-satisfied? Is Auckland a city “devoid of night life”; a place without “pep?” “Truthteller,” a contributor to our correspondence columns, who has wandered abroad for 12 long years, says that Auckland is all this and more. Now, Aucklanders do not agree entirely with him. Here are the views of some of our citizens: —- “WON’T BOTHER HIS HEAD” The Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, said he really “wouldn’t bother his head!” It was not his policy, he declared with great emphasis, to reply to letters in THE SUN which did not bear the names of the writers. Perhaps the fact that the Mayor had an aching wrist from signing debentures had something to do with liis frame of mind. He really was not interested as to whether ’pep” was required in the city or not. The Rev. J. J. North said he would much prefer to have a little talk on “gambling”; “I will, too, some other time. Just now I am immersed in

books. I would rather write a treatise than discuss whether Auckland needs a little more pep or not. After 18 months sojourn in this city, however, I have certainly not found it dull or drab; anything but that.” Mrs. Maguire, C.8.E., ex-city councillor, who has just returned from abroad, advocates open air cafes on the French lines. “The climate here is not worse than other places. Why cannot we have our meals as the French do? As for entertaining, I have not had a single free day or night since 1 returned. Let us have bands and more music, as in Germany, for our citizens. Give our young people a chance! Auckland has the places. Let us utilise them.” Mr. Kenneth Brampton, actor and globe-trotter, and producer for Auckland’s art theatre, says “it all depends on how you look at it.” “I can imagine the kind of city ‘Truthteller’ would like his native town to develop into. There would be no dreari ness and no dullness. The screeching of the overhead railway would blend harmoniously with the raucous voices of a dozen sprulkers loudly proclaiming their wares. Pep would be everywhere. Perspiring business men would sell you goods that you didn’t want, and egomaniacs would buttonhole you and convince you that you lived in a real live city that required no ‘waking up.’ Auckland may not be the quintessence of brightness, but it’s a dear old town peopled with happy, well-behaved folk who appear to know how to run their city as well as, if not better, than many of the ‘pep'-towns I have visited. It has

been my lot to travel far, to know many countries, but I doubt whether there is a spot more pleasant to live in than this ‘benighted burg.’ ” “Uncle Jack” (Mr. J. M. Prentice) broadcasts a message to THE SUN. And it did not come through the ether either: “For a city of its size, population and age, I think that Auck land compares excellently with other cities I have visited. Intellectually - there is a tendency to lag as a whole, but individuals I have met appear to be most up-to-date. The city displays, particularly in regard to jewellery and clothing, corncities, and make an appeal to luxury and refinement one would scarcely expares most favourably with other pect to find in a city less than a century old.” A CERTAIN FLAT FEELING Mr. Theo Trezise, who nowadays manages the Regent Ballroom in Auckland, admits that there is certainly “a certain flat feeling” on returning from abroad. “X have crashed round in London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin, and have observed the frothy, hysterical, boozy revelry of the night-club denizens. But I would not exchange the best of it for the natural cheer and goodwill of my native land, and Auckland in particular. The Aucklanders, healthy, sane and clean-minded, are the happiest people in New Zealand.” Miss Ellen Melville, soliticor, and the city’s senior lady councillor, admits that she does not know much about Auckland’s night life, or night life anywhere else, for that matter. “You see, I am so busy in the daylight,” she explained, “that I have very little time left for the night. . . I would suggest that the writer should have a night at Luna Park if he wants some excitement.” Miss Alice Basten, public accountant, and Auckland’s junior lady city councillor, really feels sorry for a man who has travelled for 12 years and can gather “no betetr treasure” to give his city. “To gauge a city’s pep and progress by its night life is surely a poor standard. For a city that has yet to celebrate its centenary, Auckland is certainly not dull. In our slow-going way we prefer the soldier boys who brought back gifts of genius and service rather than a man with a so-called ‘tonic outlook’ after 12 years’ absence. Perhaps if he looked around he would find that Auckland has had sufficient pep to clear from her streets those degraded objects which pass for men and women in the allegedly gay cities. Thank Heaven Auckland has been too ‘somnolent’ to create an underworld of its own.” Mrs. Montgomery, physical directress, Auckland Y.W.C.A., who meets at least 2,000 girls annually: “No, I do not consider Auckland drab or dull. Nothing of the kind. There is plenty of healthy recreation available. As for not enough night life, well, I think there is quite enough.” The Rev. Jasper Calder, disturbed for a moment while supervising arrangements for h'S new soup kitchen at the City Mission: “Auckland has pep enough to my mind. Night-life pep is not the kind of pep to do any city good. There could be more pep in business though. Many Auckland salesmen and saleswomen need it. They are rather inclined to talk and titter rather than serve a customer. Some of them dont’ care whether one buys or not. Yes, there could be a little more pep in that direction.” Miss Ivy Gibbs, Sydney poet and writer, now making a stay in Auckland: “There is absolutely nothing the matter with Auckland. Being a simple soul I love it. Plenty of God’3 glorious sunshine —when it forgets to rain—many kindly folk ready to extend the hand of friendship to the stranger within the gates, delightful parks to ramble in—beauty, music and laughter are here in abundance. Auckland is not dull. But then, I am a simple soul.”