FURTHER CRITICISM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 885, 3 August 1910, Page 6

FURTHER CRITICISM.

•OR. GIBB AND MR. NORTH EXPLAIN .'' ,'." THEIR POSITJON. < • V:. - "• MR. WARD'S! DILEMMA; . - : X', : . ■'.Wβ have received u communication :.,.,,. from the Kev. Dr. Gibb and the Kev. J. J. ,;vJ jNo.rth;'-following up thoir sermons of Sun- : ';. ■„: day last. r .\: We have talcen the : liberty' pf .' omitting'one sentence therefrom aid hare i.. paraphrased; aiiotheiygiving the -point,', •..-put-not the language of the writers. As .;.■-» amended'the letter reads as follows:- 1 ' : /. : ■' '''' : - --. ;."-"Sir, —We spdfce.lit , -protest against Ihb ..; representation iii 'this city /'of the 'Girl From:.Rector's'. ..We did so lrecauso:the- .'!..".-.' claims of th«: congregations to -whieh'-.we ;!:>'■ minister, and .the' interests of .'morality ;;.'■'. generally required;this lit our hands. We .:.;'.commend to tho attention of your 'read■'.eirs the. following'points:—'. ■ '"".

'-"First:"YAir;"American' actress; Oiga. , Nethersole, has-for. the past: 15 years Vzell .introducing' 1 : the harlot type ' of drama -into the. Statqs. :, In many of the cities, plays vofi'lliis,-sort : have , been banned; in many other cities they,have been permitted iwitlr most 'pernicious effect. •■■..;■,■■•-• .•.■.•■■■■.■ •.■■ , ;--.- ; .': ■•. ' ■'■ "Second:.'The^Girl From: Rector's' in its native .dress enjoys' an unsavoury reputation for its bawdry. If has. under-' gone', two modification:!. ' It was picked' from ■ the ' American glitter: and .cleaned.' a-little to meet British susceptibilities. It has, also manifestly been remodelled between Auckland and Wellington, as a comparison between the sketch of its plot in the Auckland 'Star' and the local papers fhowsjand'as also we are assured by one who saw v it in both cities. Its name in itself is enough to indicate its character. Rector's'is an establishment where people of the-Thaw typo disport themselves. The New York value of the phrase.; a "'Girl From Rector's' would, not 'bo appreciated by .any lady in this city. /.-"Third: Wβ; do not proceed on secondhand information; in warning our congregations, Except, .'jn so-far as all reports in .first-class'colonial ■■ papers .by special reporters are second-hand. Tho Auckland .'Star's' account of the scheme "of the,play is:'enough to. brand it-for. all decent, people.. The plot is : the conception of a dirty mind, and is destitute of any redeeming feature." In concluding their letter, Dr.. Gibb -arid' Mr.' North . refer : in very ; , strong .-terms to the posters abont the city, and Hie dodgers used-to advertise the play. ■ They ; submit : • that - Mr. Ward has to facei ; . this 'dilemma: .Either tho' play \% as bad.as the posters and advertising dodsers would make it appear,' or the > public .'he's l been misled by the advertise- ■': jncn.ts: of the company into expecting QBmething ivlich has .not.been presented.

They add: "Needless to say wo are profoimdly thankful that the public is not getting what the posters lead it to expect, but that makes no difference to Mr. Ward's dilemma."

Mr. Ward, when Ssl;ed if "lie desired to express any opinion as to-tire statements contained in the above letter, shrugged his shoulders. "Is it any use?"-he asked. "They, are wrong again, and the language they use surely makes it undesirable to prolong, the controversy. .The public, I am.sure, must be.astonished at the free use made by these clergymen of such unpleasant • epithets. I really cannot compete with them, and I should be sorry indeed to descend to*£uch language if I could. You must excuse me if I 'decline to discuss their letter."