Bar calls time on gang colours

A street brawl at the doors of a Masterton pub has forced a ban on gang colours and clothing at the bar.
Horse and Hound patrons fled the establishment a fortnight ago after 30 to 40 teenagers clashed on the footpath outside following a scuffle in the bar.
The Saturday night incident sparked the ban from today on clothing branded with BSB and Colourway Records labels.
Bar manager Cory Miller said Colourway Records is a record label set up by the Killer Beez, a youth gang formed in Otara that this year surfaced in Masterton; and BSB (Brown Skin Brothers), which is a group of young males who designed and printed T-shirts displaying the brand.
"They fought each other a couple of Saturday nights ago outside the bar. We had a couple of young fellas outside wearing Colourway Records T-shirts and a couple of those other guys (BSB) came over and hit them and then it started quite a big thing.
"The customers got quite a bit of a fright and there were no police around to give us a hand on it. There was that problem down in Featherston and there was that guy that got knocked out at Carterton at the same time.
"Our concern was all the customers seemed a bit freaked out and our bar emptied out, we had to close at quarter to one. We probably lost about $3000."
He said no weapons were used, but "one guy was taken away in an ambulance".
"Our main concern was just the age of these guys, how young these guys were 18, 19, some were 17. Having guys this age doing this stuff, it's quite concerning.
"I'd prefer that they sorted their own stuff out at their house instead of coming to the bar to sort it out. We're just trying to keep it away."
Mr Miller said because he doesn't know the people involved, he doesn't want to "judge them", but he believes incidences such as the one at the Horse and Hound are increasing.
"There seems to be a lot of stuff happening around town but I don't think it can be pointed to anyone in particular. I think it's just our young ones just haven't got anything to do. I don't think there is much to do for 15 to 18 year olds that aren't quite at the pub yet. It could be a good idea for someone to get behind them and pick them all up."
The clothing ban is Horse and Hound's method of trying to keep the gang tensions out of the bar and keep the customers in.
"We are just in some way making our own stand to keep the peace," he said.
Banning T-shirts without collars has also been mooted and a sign at the bar and on the door states that would take effect in a week.
However, bar co-owner Carey Ashwell is undecided on that action and said further discussion on the matter would be necessary, especially when warmer weather arrives.
"I'm not sure about that, how that's going to go in the summer trade.
"I think we've got to be a bit careful on that front. We may be flexible on that one. We're just trying to up the standard a bit."
The dress restriction comes after "a couple of gang issues", he said.
"Two to three weeks ago there was a niggle inside and then a whole mass of people came and there was a big brawl outside.
"It didn't happen on our premises but we just want to make sure it's good and safe for everyone."