GREAT INDUSTRIAL DRAMA WANTED IN NEW ZEALAND

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1949, Page 7

GREAT INDUSTRIAL DRAMA WANTED IN NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON, August 29. According to information supplied by moral rearmament representatives in Wellington today, they have been asked to present the industrial play "The Forgotten Faetor." in New Zealand. The announcement states "A group of prominent persons in representative positions in the comniunity, lias joined in approaching tlie committee which has been staging the play in Victoria, to seek its co-operation in making possib!^ a visit of the cast to this country. The Australian cast has been trained by moral rearmament workers who helped stage the piay in America and Britain. "The tex.t of the New Zealand iiivitation is as follows: 'To the committee of invitation for the 'forgotten factor. Victoria: We are aware of the need for a uniting idea to enable democracy to nnswer the materialistic ideas which •c invading and dividing the countries ■ f the Pacihc. We have heard with in'erest, evidence of what the force of •uoral rearmament is doing on the world front to give democracy an inspired deology. In particular we have been 'mpressed by the part nhich the industrial drania, "The Forgotten Factor," has played in this programme. We appreciaW vtiur 'ihitlat'i've ih showing t lus play in Victoria. We wish to take siuiilar action and extend a cordial invitation to the force of moral rearmament to present "The Forgot+en Factor " m New Zealand. We will be grateful for your co-oneration and advice in making lliis possible.' "The signatories to this statement are: R. AL Algie, member of Parhament; Efnest H. Andrevvs, Mavor of Churchureh; Will Appleton, Alayor of Wellington; Iv. Baxter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of La.bour; Sii Donald Cameron, Mayor of- Dunedin; T. Clifton Webb, member of Parliament; Leonard J. Coakley, Deputv Mavor of Auckland; A. W. Croskery, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour; F. W. Doidge, member of Parliament; Mrs Flora Ar. Forde, Dominion president of the National Council of Women; Mrs Dorothy Graham, Dominion secretary of the National Council of Women; R. D. Greenwood, president of the New Zealand Institute of Industrial Management; K. J. Holyoake, DeputyLeader of the Opposition; F. Jones, Minister of Defence; A. McLagan, Min-

ister of Labour; W. Nash, Minister oi Finance; A., H. Nordmeyer, Minister of fndustries and Commerce; M. H. Oram member of Parliament; A. P. O'Shea general secretary of Federated Farm ers; W. N. Perry, Dominion president ut Federated Farmers; D. M. Rae, membei of Parliament; W. G. Rodger, registrar of the New Zealand Institute ,of Industrial Management; Mrs II. Ross, member of Parliament; C. F. Skinner, Miuister of Rehabilitation; A. Wachner, Mayor of Invercargill. In addition special letters of interest and support have been written by the .Prime Alinister and Leader of the Opposition. •• ' The theme of forgotten factor is simple. It shows the home of an indus trialist and home of a trade union load er in^ his employ during a period Oi intense industrial unrest. The course o. the drama iiiustrates the industr'uu phase of battle betw^een. democracy and totalitarianism for control of the world. Its influence is said to be so powerfui that industrial reiations have been improved and production gone up in centres where the play has been stagecl. "Ihe Forgotten Factor' has been produced in hve languages and in 12 countries.' A further series of showings iu Melbour^ie begins tonight. "