MR AMERY'S VISIT

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19179, 9 December 1927, Page 8

MR AMERY'S VISIT

BALANCE-SHEET.

THEATRE ROYAL "EXTRAS."

Remarks were passed regarding the "extras" charged for the use of the Theatre R-oyal for the public meeting addressed by 3lr L. b\ Amery, when the committee responsible for the arrangements was deiling with the balance-sheet yesterday afternoon. Those present were Dr. E. G. Levinge (in the chair), Messrs E. H. Marriuer, J. A. Flesher, J. S. Neville, W. Bottrell,! aud P. 11. C'limio. Apologies for absence were received tiom the flavor (Mr J. K. Archer) and Mrs Chilton" The last-named forwarded a letter, received from Mrs Amery, winch read as follows:—"You gave much time and thought to the arrangements for my visit "to Christchurch yesterday. I am more grateful to you than I can say for the lovely roses and all the excellent .".rrangements made for the gaiden party. Everything has been a complete pleasure to us. We loved our day in. Christchurch, and are not too tired as the result of our many activities. We hope one day we may have the pleasure of seeing you in England." The statement of receipts and expenditure was as follows:—Receipts: sale of luncheon tickets (284 at 5s each), £7l. Expenditure: Messrs Burke and Co. Gallerv (luncheon), £5 ss; rent of Theatre Royal (address), £1.0; lighting and cleaning of Theatre Royal, £5 16s 8d; wages, Theatre Royal, £3 lis; cartage, chairs, and goods, £4 lis 6d; advertising and printing, £5 19s 6d; postage and stationery, £1 10s; total, £94 8s 2d. The excess of expenditure over receipts was thus £23 8s 2d-. The balance-sheet was adopted, mid it was moved by Mr Bottrell that # the committee ask the Finance Committee of the City Council to meet the deficit * "Exorbitant and Unusual." The chairman said it occurred to him they should make some protest over the extra charges for the Theatre Royal. They seemed to him exorbitant, and there was something unusual about the extras. Mr Bottrell asked whether a reduction should not be sought of tho rent charged for the Art Gallery. Mr Flesher said the usual charge was £3 3s. Mr Climie said the Art Gallery charges were not excessive, but cause for complaint lay with the Theatre Royal charges. The rent for the theatre was lower than usual, but the other expenses were practically equal to it. Mr Marriner remarked that the switching on of the lights cost £l. "All these charges are paid, 1 ' said Mr Climie. "Well, we can't do much then," said the chairman. Mr Climie: Yes, I paid them on the night of the meeting. Mr Neville said the practice for the Concert Hall would be to make a gross charge to cover everything. It • was agreed that Messrs Flesher and Climie meet the Finance Committee of the Council, and propose that it grant the amount of the deficit. The chairman said Mr Olimie was to be congratulated on his perfect arrangements. Ho had done very good work. A resolution thanking him for his services was carried. Votes of thanks were also passed to Mr W. E. D. Bishop and members of the Citizens' Defence Corps for their voluntary services in connexion with the public address; also to Messrs A. J. White and Co. for th*'loan of material in connexion with the luncheon.

NEXT TO HIMALAYAS.

OPINION OF SOUTHERN ALPS. (SPECIAL TO THX FBESS.) TIMARU, December 8. Arrangements are now well in hand to conduct Mr L S. Amery over the Alps from the Canterbury side to the West Coast. It is intended to take the party to the Franz Josef glacier on the other side of the range to-morrow, the night being spent at the Defiance hut, and a start being made for the Waiho Gorge on Saturday morning. Bef °J e starting for the Coast, however, Mr Amery hopes to climb the Minarets, 10,058 ft. Mr Amery and Miss Selling, secretary to Mrs Amery, wero enthusiastic over the ski-ing ground, stating that it was the finest summer ski-ing they had had. Mr Amery said the panorama of the icefields and peaks had impressed him greatly, and he considered that they ranked next v to the Himalayas. He was sure that in time the sports ground would attract tourists from all over the world. Mrs Amery will leave the Hermitage to-morrow 'for the West Coast, via Timaru and Christchurch, where she will meet Mr Amery, the party then leaving for Wellington via Nelson.

Mr L. S. Amery will arrive at Nelson on Monday on his way back to Wellington. On Tuesday he will officially open the new biological control station in connexion with the Cawthron Institute, where it is expected that good work will be done in connex/ion with the control of insect pests. On Wednesday next, Mr Amery will be the guest at luncheon of the Wellington Employers' Association, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and Wellington Manufacturers'.Association.