AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16721, 2 January 1920, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. •THE MAX WHO CAMF. BACK." Thcro was a-air. i« ;ood house- a: th» i Tb-'ssrc Royal iu.it r.ijrht. when the r iv ' v,x; ; I ix.'. dr-ursa, "The Man Who Lome Back. ! was repeated. Tho play will bo oU-.pxi ; the Isc: time thi-* evening-. j "THE BTRD OF PARADISE." I To-morrow evening a distinct riowily iri j the dramatic line, "Tho Bird of Parcdtse, ' i«-ill lv sini-oa fcr tho f::-1 time in Chnstchtirch. Tin; r.ew ]' iv h.id i 1.; rtir. -'' America. where Hit*. Ifjrii: S;arr_ cr.• short a tm::r 'jhai tour m ora-*r to f'jlal lvcr tpiipr.Tor.t -.vi-_h tho J. C. Williamson fi-"'-contracted tor rrior to h-:- .»cw rr;: Vi r .• -'. Tho plo- o." "The Bird oi Parod.W o Mi'.h the birthday fo:ist of "L".:.ir.a," ar.d the revelation : y tho v« nerahV p::«! r - her prir.colv rank a< the irranadaughtcr of Ksjr.obimcka. "Napoleon of the Pacific." Tre native;, eeau-d on their mat* or grouped about : tho entrar.co cf tho cave. in damn*' er ;p. chanting melodiously 1»> tho rr.usit- ct their strange r.i;;.e.\:s. Their or.vnr.io: : is ir.Uvruptod rv; by u planter. "*':■> -visnv;. to Irani them back to work, and then ever, ran to effectively by ::i:iawho cry , out about the native drosses and the idol.'- j *.ruin hymnn. Tv.ir:.-;.;, caaor t.-> it'.dy nat.ve t customs, comi> alt*> with Dr. Wile.mi. ah,- k. ; bent on earning ecicr.tific far.io ' v d'.-evvor- : ing tho factcria o; leprosy. 110 iwr.rr. * < enamoured o; Luar.a. however. an-t the:'ths traqt-dy K';:iitn. A b»'ac:ic.iti.bor who ha«i t-yiv.ut.i.H\i to tho iUhiror.H-:i;« <-f l!.:' ! la:;.- land niedom to J)r. Wll.-o:.. but ho id not hcfdod. On tho ovho.r h.t'.'d. Diir_-i ii-trr.i-d l-reAthoe in<piratitin :-.t.» boicliconii>>»r, aliKi n t-ilont-il div tor. and !.o rapidly Tciov.r.t asd pcrforttis tho \r.iil: ■K-hk-h Dr. Wi'.-ur. had pet o:it to oecornpii:»h. s[i=*!* iluriol Starr, it &; ei.itinl. has tic tor been (-eon to letter than u« I.t;ar.a, u;o Huv.ai.an prirtcx-es. Mee-ir.s Friuit llarvoy, Artlrar Styan, .1. li. Atliolv.ond. and tho ovin-r popular n:crn>>cri> <if tiie compnny w.'ll aideqaato support. Tho p!ar» are now on view .V. the Tboatro ofluo. I overa iiorsr:. t Tho Tory ?-znplo And att.'actsvo *t Uu> C>j> r.i llouso drv'.v crowded andiocooa at both ni»tirce a:sl ovonin-' poriomianco restojday. Tlx* ci»'vor irtists. »li. turi.'a worn all well received. wert> iLU,'rmcnt»-1 by l)o Baker's Mouolb, a series of rc mar'sably fmo roi>rc-?<nitj.tiaitA of inarblo su»tu..rv. Tho progriunmo will bo repeated aptin tin-. evomnt,-, and thorc willl bo tho -.i.iual niatiue-> to-morrow. LIBERT? THEATRE. Tho fir.o adaptation of Cynthia Stocklev'r African novel, "The Claw," will tio tcrocno<l at tho Liberty Tli<vi.tr<' for tho l.ixt time day. Tho fe-atnre of tho new tomorrow iw a M;Uioi Normand production, onritlod "When Doctor* OirHgjoo," which ia i-aid to bo a. remarkably fme pictaro. CRYSTAL PALACE. Tho powerful drama, "Out o{ t'uo i'i which Niuamova the pro&t lUissian actress, is starred, v.-ith its J tn>njr Kupportiu-ir proirranirue, will f>o rcjx-ated at thn Crjulal I'alaco to-d»v. GRAND THEATRK. "Th« UrJcnowa Quantity," an 0. Honry story, of groat human in ten's t, -with a, rtron? pr<Hrramm<) in support, ivill bo ecreen<vl again to-day at tho Grand Theatre all tes!«ion3. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Thn two Mcollont foatare film®, "Thai Winches tor Woman" and "Skinror'n Babv" with a wcn-ooloct«-d programme in wipport, will bo shown afiir. at tbo Qooea'a Thoatrc to-d»v. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Tlio Ktroagtir Vow," a powerful drama, in which Geraldinn Farrar in starred, togoLb«T with tho oomedy, "Horo Oomcw fho Bride," »nd a wdl-selcctod lot of fill no in support, will bo shown u.t Everybody's Tboifrc again to-day at all sessions. " BTRAXB THEATRE. Tho whirlwind Paramount mastcrpicoe. "Tho Dub," with un cscolk-itt and varied a»portinont of enpporting' pictures, will be t-howii at tho .Strami Theatre for fho liiat time to-day. « By a new law which has just been promulgated, French workers who eontract iihicsses duo to thi> industry in which they arc engaged will bo entitled to tho samo compensation ns if they had been tho victjms of an accident in tho cotirso of their employment. The tiist rccordod ease or attempted economy by a Government official (according to London "l'irach") was unfortunately a failure. It appears that somebody,, whoso duty it was to issue all outgoing choques, attached his signature to tho first ono of tho bate.h. and simply put "ditto" on tho remainder.

ever, the meat export of tliis season is provided for, nnd it is probnblo that, tho subsequent demand will be strong enough to keep our prices firm, with, in tho open market, an upward tendency. The fact that buying companies in tho North are operating freely ami p;:ying increased prices—IJd per lb for lamb and ljd for mutton in certain districts—may be taken as indicating that, they do not anticipate extended control. feeling undoubtedly is against further disturbance of ordinary commercial r utin-v It may be taken for granted that ;iie quantity frozen tins "c.ison will ]>•• i'ss than last season. Tho rri-cnt lambing shows a reduction f~r the Domininn r.f 1.1*20,111 on the figures of IT' I nnd C.l.'M.T 5 on those of If 17. reprfrenting, resp-ctivcly, declines of, npprorvimately 10 ar.d 20 per cent. Tiiis must naturally be rcflnr-ted in a red:: el outp;:t. particularly when the additional factor of ninny pastoral properties br.'in;; cut up for closer settlement is considered. I'etore the fnmriandeer, our annual wool oxr-Tt brought :u liigh as twelve millions sterling. "What that figuro would jiim;» to under open sale now would |,o difficult to suggest, and it is practically certain that, the market will bo tree alter June. Circumstances that might IK-.CCS-itato the Imperial Government controlling su-li an important food as meat, do not apply to wool. Although huge quantities are in store, and in transit to the United Kingdom there is an insatiahln demand for it. With an open, field .America would impart great activity to the wool market, as the quantity that the United Kingdom has allowed her is only a fraction of her requirements. Canada wants wool, and already Continental countries nro eagerly competing for supplies. As Europe progresses towards normality, and the purchasing power expands, so will tho demand for wool. Generally, therefore, tho pastoralists, particularly tho wool-grower, need havo no apprehension about the immediate future. It might bo suggested that there is no branch of farming activity with tho same bright possibilities as dairying. In 1909 our export of butter was valued at £1,639,3.80; in 1918 tho value was £3,402,223; in 1909 ehoeso exported was worth ■CI, 105(390; in 191S £4,087,278. This rapid rate of progress, it is claimed, is not comparable with what tho next decade will show. With tho extension of tho dried milk, casein, milk powder, and condensed milk industries, enabling tho payment for tho raw material on .a 50 to GO per cent, higher basis, there certainly seems almost limitless scopo for dairying expansion. Thcso prices will bring in their walco better dairy farming in respect to tho use of liigli-grado cows, which again will increase tho output, increasod carrying capacity of tho land through tho incentive Jo provide better pasture, and a recognition of the necessity of tho uso of concentrated foods in winter. High-priced land can bo made payable only by dairying, and it would not bo a visionary estimate to suggest that our export figures may double during tho next decade. An industry that will return £20 an acre per annum—which a very considerable area of dairying country is doing today—on land tho surface of which need not be broken, except at lengthy intervals, must, to use a colloquial term, "come into its own." The bright prospects of onr pastoral and dairying industries are not at the momont visihle in connexion with the future of cereal growing, particularly of "wheat. Tho return of 'an increased number of farmers to tho House of Representatives may result in a better considered decision regarding tho development of wheat growing. Figures have been recently pnblishod showing tho reduced area dovotcd to wheat this season, and it is certain that the reduction will continue unless different treatment ia meted out in regard to tho cultivation of tho crop. As the profitableness of dairying and general pastoral activities increases so will wheat production under "fixed prices," unless properly onconraged, decrease. Tho , political necessity that made tho wheat grower tho scapegoat of tho "high cost of living" cry disappeared on December 17th, nnd thero is no reason from that viewpoint, ns thero certainly is not from any other, why ho should have to produco an essential food at a price which, compared with others, is low. Generally, the future of our primary industries is bright. Internal troubles in other countries may affect tho marketing of our produco undor tho most favourable conditions, and shipping disabilities may be another disturbing factor, but no kind of check can bo anticipated that will seriously affect tho wealth-producing power of tho Dominion. Efficient Immigration. Among the necessities of tho Dominion which were referred to by many candidates in the general election campaign was a vigorous immigration system, on tho double ground that Jfew Zealand must increaso lier production, and that more labour was needed for our secondary industries. Immigration is, undoubtedly, one of the matters with which tho Government must deal in the near future, and as only an officient system would be of any valuo to the Dominion and tho immigrants themselves, it became important to study all suggestions with that end in view. There is at present visiting Australia, on behalf of tho Empire Land Settlement Committee of tho Royal Colonial Institute, a Mr Christopher Turnor, described as possessing a long and intimate knowledge of British agriculture, in which his success in raising tho productiveness of poor lands was most marked, together with a personal acquaintance with tho intensive methods practised in Denmark, Germany, Canada, and tho United States. He is looking into Australian conditions with the view of ascertaining whether it is possible to arrange for tho settlement

rhi'Tc of ox-soldiers, who, ercn if with- j 1 />ut a knowledge of farming, conid re- j ceive a preliminary course of training I which would enable tliem to become use- ! ful settlers. He argues that as the | Old Country T s share in any such schcme | world bo a contribution of "the best ! " there is to give—British man-power,'' j tiio Dominions might well bear the i financial cost. On the other hand, he j aimits that this is probablv. at the pre- j .'cut time, bevond tho means of any ' J oversea Dominion, and he has, thero- j j fore, suggested that the Imperial Go- i vernment should advance £."00 per man, at the current rate of interest, and with a sinking fund providing for the loan being paid off in not less than twenty, nr nicro than 371, years, tho instalments for the first three or four years being :o tho capital, so a.s to help the men over tl:<-ir initial difficulties. He is .1 believer in group nr community settlement. such as was advocated for returned soldiers in the North Island. Tumor's scheme contemplates the settlement, of immigrants in groups of 1-7). with a director at the head of cub settlement, and a central farm, to be used for demonstration purposes. The first duty of the Dominions, ns Mr Turnor recognises, is to provide for their own returned soldiers, for whom, in tho cc.so of New Zealand, fucli a scheme ns he outlined might prove most advantageous. But when their needs are -atisfied ho pleads that opportunity to bccomo offiricnt settlers should bo extended to the young men in tho Old Countrv. among whom contact during the war with tho men from distant pnrts of tho Empire lias in many instances bred a rtrong dasire to seek tho wider fields for activity and enterprise that those lands offer.

Mr Mnssey's Xow Yonr mossngo to tho of New Zealand breathes the riccht spirit—thankfulness for tho privilnc.es wo enjoy, strong confidence in tho future of tho "Dominion, nnd a <!osiro that all shall work together for tho common good. Tho T'rimo Minister points out that this holiday season is being enjoyed, with good reason, with greater zest than for several years past, but ho also reminds us that "thero is still much work to be dono in tho way of meeting our responsibilities arising from tho war, which, to be successful, necessitates tho exercise of energy and co-operation by the wholo of tlio people of Now Zealand." Ho appeals from !sow Zoaland in war time to New Zealand in pcacc—from a people who, with few exceptions, for fivo years of war placed their country before everything else, to a people who are now faced with difficulties demanding no less nnited and conccntratod effort to surmount. The five years of destruction nnd arrested development through which, in common with the wholo Empire, and a largo part of tho civilised world. New Zealand passed, have left us with a legacy of work to ho dono that will only be accomplished if we undertake it in the spirit of tho Prime Minister's timely messago.

Tho times are long past since a clergyman of tho Church of England could connt himself "passing rich on forty pounds a year." But if ono may judge by the attitude of tho Church itself and of the parishioners of many of its clergy, there is a fairly general nnd strongly-held opinion that tho enrato who is paid £150 a year or tho vicar with £200, ought to think himself well off —although workers whoso avocations require no Jong and expensive education aro receiving much more and are continually aslcing, and getting, still higher pay. Tlio painful results of the undor-payment from which so many clergymen both at Homo and elsewhere suffer, wero indicated in tho recent public examination, beforo tho "Registrar in Bankruptcy at Bradford, in England, of a country vicar whoso liabilities amounted to £1107 and his assets to barely £10.

It appeared that the unfortunato man, whose stipend in tho six curacies he had held varied from £120 to £170 a year, and who at the timo of his bankruptcy was a vicar at £200 a year, fell into the hands of moneylenders r. numbor of years ago. He does not seem to have great business capacity, and thcreforo, though admitting that ho had made himself liable for interest to tho amount of £530, ho was not aware of tho vast sum which was bcins piled up against him whon ho was conducting the transactions. Ho was always paying double interest—on money on which ho had already paid and on, now loans. Thus, from ono firm of moneylenders he had received £245, had repaid £265, and still owed £290. "Ho had not realised these startling figures beforo." In the caso of another firm, he received £90, had repaid £130, and still owed £80. When ho negotiated for a loan of £130 he received only £15, the moneylenders deducting £115 for a previous transaction. On another occasion, when he arranged for a loan of £200 ho actually got only £20 cash, £ISO being retained in respect of the previous debt. Ho signed for £280 in place of £200—£80 more in respect of interest—for tho actual advance of £20.

In answer to further enquiries, tlio debtor said that in twenty-thrco years 110 had received only £200 in tho way of gifts or presentations. His four children wero in school-homes, and his wife, in order to help to educato them and keep herself, was working as a waitress in London. Ho himself was living alone at his vicarage, -his only furniture being a chair, a table, and a bed, all tho rest having been sold to meet tho claim 9 of the moneylenders. At tho conclusion of tho debtor's examination the Official Receiver, after remarking that ho did not often comment on eases beforo the Bankruptcy Court, declared that the bankrupt vicar had bocn faced cither with tho starvation of his wife and children, or with tho dreadful alternative of going to moneylenders. Ho went to the latter, and his life from that moment had been a horrible one. "If the Churches of all denominations do not see that their clergy and .pastors aro better paid, even if Christianity does not compel them, humanity ought to compel them to do so. No man of debtor's education and position ought to be faced with such horrible alternatives." The Registrar, in concurring with thcso remarks, expressed the hope that tho public conscience would be aroused to ensure that the lives of tho clergy should not be subject to such difficulties as those against which tho debtor had had to

contend. As it happened, some further! lipht on clerjry stipends .it Homo was' furnished by a discission at the Church ! Congress, held about the same time. j when one of the speakers stated that' there wcro 32<0 livings worth less than 1 L-M a year, and 80i>l under £300 Is it any wonder that at liome and 'elsewhere. including X,. ir Zealand, it is 1-or-onuris increasingly difficult to induce youn K men to enter the Church? j