OPERA HOUSE COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3070, 4 May 1917, Page 3

OPERA HOUSE COMPANY

EFFECT OF AVAR ON THEATRICAL BUSINESS. The twenty-ninth ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the 'Wellington Opera House Company, Ltd., was held yesterday afternoon. Those present, or represented by prosy, were Messrs. W. H. P. Barber (in the chair), C. Plinimer, \V. Freeman, N. B. Taylor, J. H. Flockton, F. Bedford, M. Segrief, 0. J. Segrief, It. 0. Sogrief, 11. Gamble, W. W. Dalby, A. M. Lewis, P. S. Lawrie, T. G. Osborn, and W. C. Stephens. The chairman moved the adoption of the directors' annual report and bal-ance-sheet (already published). Speaking to the motion, he said that the report was very brief, for the simple reason that thero was very little to report. This was duo to existing conditions, which were affecting theatrical enterprises and industries of every kind. ■The future of the theatrical worldl depended a great deal on tho termination of tho war. Personally the company was not concerned, but it had erected a building for the purpose of providing entertainment, and it was only natural that tho shareholders would! like to seo the building occupied as much as possible. From ■ correspondence be had seen from the lessees (Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd.), it was indicated that they had the greatest difficulty in obtaining sufficient plays and! artists. Many theatrical people ivoro engaged iii war work or in the trenches at the presont time, and somo of them' had laid down their lives. . It was duo to this fact that the building was closed at different intervals tbrougbout the year. Hei behoved,, however, that when tho conflict terminated , they would seo the building frequently occupied, becftuso the supply of plays and tho theatrical profession generally would return to their normal condition. The lessees would then deem it their business to seo that the place was freely occupied. Tho affairs of- tho company lin regard to the building wero exactly tho samo as last year. The 'revenue of £6000 odd! was practically the same, but on tho debit side there was a new item—the sum of £346 11s. 6d. for income tax. Previously the company had only paid land tax, and the increased taxation was due to tho legislation brought down. Mr. Bedford seconded the motion without comment, and it was carried 1 with practically no discussion. Messrs. Freeman and Flockton, the retiring directors, wero re-elected, and Messrs. W. 0. »Stephens and E. Bucholz wore re-elected auditors. -