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Dances Act

LAWS OF TONGA

1988 Revised Edition

CHAPTER 166

DANCES ACT

Arrangement of Sections

Section

1 Short title.
2 Holding dance without a licence.
3 Dispersal of persons assembled at dance.
4 Disorderly houses.
5 Fees.

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DANCES ACT

Acts Nos. 11 of 1951, 7 of 1952, 22 of 1987, 9 of 1988

AN ACT RELATING TO DANCES

Commencement [31st October, 1951]

1 Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Dances Act.

2 Holding dance without a licence.

(1) No dance at which a charge for admission is made shall be held in any village or place without a licence first obtained for the purpose from the Minister of Police or a person who may be authorised by him to issue the same, which licence shall be in the form and subject to the conditions contained in the Schedule hereto. Any person taking part in or promoting such dance for which no such licence shall have been first obtained as aforesaid shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $50 or in default of payment to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding one month. (Amended by Acts 7 of 1952 and 9 of 1988.)

(2) It shall be lawful for any police officer of or above the rank of first class constable to enter any house or place in respect of which a licence has been granted for the purpose of enforcing the conditions of the licence. (Amended by Act 7 of 1952.)

3 Dispersal of persons assembled at dance.

It shall be lawful for any police officer of or above the rank of first class constable to enter any house or place where he has reason to believe dancing or any other amusement is going on contrary to the provisions of this Act or where any persons are assembled for such purpose and to warn all persons there assembled to leave and disperse, and any person other than the residents remaining in any such house or place after being warned aforesaid or not dispersing when required so to do by such police officer shall be deemed to be an idle and disorderly person and shall be liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding $50 or in default of payment to imprisonment for any term not exceeding one month. (Amended by Acts 7 of 1952 and 9 of 1988.)

4 Disorderly houses.

Upon complaint being made upon oath to any magistrate by any two or more respectable householders that any person in their neighbourhood keeps a disorderly house to the nuisance of those in its vicinity, it shall be lawful for such magistrate to inquire into the case and, if the complaint be duly proved, to impose a fine not exceeding $100 on the offender or in default of payment to sentence such offender to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding 3 months. (Amended by Act 9 of 1988.)

5 Fees.

The fee for a licence issued under this Act shall be the sum of $10:

Provided that if the Minister of Police or his representative is satisfied that the proposed dance is for the purpose of raising money for a charitable purpose within the meaning of any rules made by the Minister of Police from time to time and published in the Gazette the licence required under this Act may be issued free of any fee. (Amended by Act 22 of 1987.)

THE SCHEDULE
(Section 2)

LICENCE FOR DANCING UNDER THE DANCES ACT

Take notice that A.B. of....................................................is hereby permitted to hold a .......................................at ....................................in the village of ...........................on the ............day of ................................ 19 ............................

The conditions of this licence are as follows —

(1) That the said (dance) shall cease at or before the hour of .................................. ............................... on the ............................day of ...............................................

(2) That thereupon all persons not being bona fide residents upon the premises shall leave and disperse.

(3) That no infraction of the liquor laws nor any indecent words or acts be permitted.

(4) This licence may be revoked at pleasure.

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