BELGIAN RELIEF FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2421, 29 March 1915, Page 6

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND

A PATRIOTIC EFFORT

ENTHUSIASM AT THE OPERA HOUSE There is always a genial air of intimacy and good fellowship between tho audience and players on the last night of a season in the case of a company which has given satisfaction. This was so in the case of the Plimmer-Hall Patriotic Company, which concluded its opening season of what promises to bo a most notable tour oil Saturday evening in the presence of a large audience, which manifested great enthusiasm throughout. The play was "The Mummy and the Hummingbird," a drama with a uniformly tenacious interest from beginning t-o end, and in which the new company shows to conspicuous advantage. At the fall of the curtain there was a scene of enthusiasm, and after tho third "curtain," Mr. Winter Hall came forward and said that on behalf of Mr. Plitnmcr and himself he would like to publicly thank all who had helped them to make the Wellington season so very successful. First of all he would like to thank the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) and the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) for the kindly interest they were taking, and for their promise to superviso the finances of the tour. It was originally intended that each town would be credited with its own profit right away, but that had been found to be impossible, owing to the large amount that was necessary to cover preliminary expenses, and which would have to be spread over the whole tour. In Wellington tho initial expense of the tour had' been necessarily heavy—expenses which would not be recurring.' It would therefore be manifestly unfair to compare tho profit made in Auckland to that of Wellington. where so much expense had been incurred, but every account was to be carefully audited by a public accountant in Wellington, submitted to the Prime Minister and Mr. Luke, and, through them, mado known to the public. (Applause.)

Mr. Hall also thanked the Minister of Customs (for remitting the duty on the printing;), Mr. R. Fletcher (for remitting wharfage on company's goods), the newspapers for concessions made in the advertising, and. for the splendid articles they had published, to the Natives' Association, and, in particular, to Mr. Charles M'lntyre, its secretary; to tho association's band and its conductor, Lieutenant T. Herd, for its nightly performances; to the National Reserve; to Messrs, John Fuller aud Sons, who had made a handsome donation of £50 in connection with the rent of the theatre for the Dunedin season —(applause); to Messrs. J.'C. Williamson, Ltd., for concessions in the lighting charges of the Opera House; to Kirkcaldio and Stains, George and Kerslcy, George and George, and C. Smith for assistance given; to tho auctioneers, who had sold goods, not forgetting their own charming auctioneer, Miss Day; to the ladies who assisted in selling programmes; the Bristol Piano Company for tho use of two pianos during the season; to Mr. H.. Amos (of Banks' Commercial College), who had done a deal of typewriting for them; to Mr. Radford for tho use of furniture for the stage, and to Mr. Bartlett for photographs. To ouo and all their heartfelt thanks were due, and he wished Wellington knowing quite well they had its 'good wishes for the tour. (Loud applause.) A National Effort. A few days ago the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) telegraphed to the Mayor - of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) and Mr. Arthur Myers, M.P., suggesting that the effort of the Plimmer-Hall Company should bo a national, not a parochial one. and that the amount available he handed to the Government as a contribution to the National Belgium Fund. Mr. Parr has agreed to the suggestion, and Mr. Myers agrees to the proposal to hand the profit to a central committee, hut suggests that each centro should be credited with the profits made as an incentive to local endeavour. This will eventually bo done.