“WOWSER COUNCILS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 1

“WOWSER COUNCILS”

MR. LEE FEARS BLUE LAWS CONTROL OF AMUSEMENTS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, To-day. Perhaps with lively recollections of happenings in Auckland, Mr. J. A. Lee last evening expressed alarm at the inclusion, in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, of the provision allowing municipalities wider powers in refusing or cancelling licences for public halls. This, Mr. Lee foreshadowed, would result in the passing of blue laws dictated by “wowser* councils. Such clauses probably emanated from the anti-smiling faction which desired control of the amusements of the people, he said, while the Government might regulate rabbits quite successfully.. it would encounter trouble when it started out to regulate the amusements of the people. An irresponsible council might even altogether forbid dancing. This legislation would “wowser’* councils power to make regulations for long faces and to prohibit all amusements as sin and iniquity. “When I’m too old to enjoy a little wholesome recreation,” added Mr. Lee. “I won’t be fit to hold a seat in the House.” Mr. J. Mason (Napier) challenged Mr. Lee by stating that all the councils were not wowsers. No council had yet abused its powers. Discussion on the Bill, which lias yet to go to committee, occupied the whole evening, and was of a very desultory character. In reply to criticism of the amendment, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston said, at the conclusion of the discussion, that Mr. Lee had implied that municipal administrators were not reasonable men. Councils, when licensing public halls, had the right to impose conditions. Mr. Lee: They will impose the curfew. Mr. Rolleston replied! that the provision had been asked for by the Municipal Conference. The Bill was read a second time and referred to a special committee, and the House rose at 12.35 a.m.