OPERA HOUSE COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 202, 15 May 1918, Page 8

OPERA HOUSE COMPANY

ANNUAL MEETING

THE "GRAND" RELEASED FOR

PICTURES

The annual meeting s«F file Wellington Opera House Company ivaß held in tho fover of tho Grand Opera Itouse yesterday, Mr. W. H. P. Barber (chairman of directors) presiding. There was only a bare quorum of shareholders present, Ou the motion of Sir. Henry Hume, seconded bv Mr. Frank Bedford, tho annual repurt (already published) was taken as read. In moving its adoption the chairman said there was practically no difference in the profit and loss account this vear as compared with last, but on the debit side tho land tax had increased from .£l9l 9s'. Inst year to X 543 this year. Tho directors had decided to write tho sum of iCI/iilD oft tlifc Grand Opera Ho":a and i'&fi oil' the old Opera Houso ('Everybody's Theatre), which _ would have the nfi'cei of reducing the income tux from to and would menu a total saving in taxation of ,6240. Tho 15. and E. (Everybody's and Empress) Company, to whom I lie* old Opera House hod been leased at a rental of <£2000 por annum,, had stipulated in the lease thai pictures were not to bo exhibited in tho Grand Opera House. Without such a, provision that company was not likely lo pay JC2OOO a vear rent and I'.KKIO on alterations, but tho directors had thought; it wise to includo in the agreement that by paving a certain sum of money they could lift that embargo. Tho lease offlthe old Opera Houso was for ten years, aud the amount of money to be paid them for lifting the embargo becamo. less as tha leaso ran out. During the year the lessees of the Grand Opera House (Messrs: J. C. Williamson. Ltd.) deemed it desirable to bo in a position to exhibit star pictures in that theatre periodically, so | the directors decided to pay the amount due under tho terms of the agreement, for the unexpired term, which amounted to .£312 lis. Id. per annum, but as acontra to that they were receiving an additional JMOO a year rent from J. C. Williamson, Ltd., 60 that, tho transaction had meant a profit to the company. Mr. Barter went on to say that considering the conditions existing it. wa£ satisfactory to be able to pay the same dividend ui tho company had lweu paying for a number of years past. Artists were increasingly difficult to secure, and the .war had to an extent interfered •wit.li. tho writing of plays. Owing to those conditions tho production of plays in the Dominion was restricted, and was pretty well restricted to those companies who visited .the country periodically. Tho company could only wish tho country to become sufficiently prosperous to draw other companies, as it was a great pity that the theatre was not permanently occupied. The present return did not allow of a great margin of profit owing to the restrictions noted, but tho prospects for the future were brighter, as anything in excess of a certain sum received in revenue by tho lessees was to be divided equally between the lessees and tho company. When times became normal he hoped that their affairs would be moro prosperous than at tho present time. The Empire was going through a great struggle at the present time, nnd every venture that had anything to do with amusement had to stand its share, Under such condiions he congratulated the shareholders on the company's ability to pay the dividend recommended. He moved tho adoption of tho report. This was seconded by Mr. F. Bedford, and carried without comment.

On the/ motion of Mr. H. Hume, seconded by Mr. F. Bedford, Messrs. W. 11. I J . Baroer and Mr. Charles Plimmer were reappointed directors. Mr. Barber, in thanking tho shareholders for his reappointment, said that lie was surprised to find on looking over the lwoks of tho company the other 3ay that he had been a director for twenty-eight years, a record he was very proud of indeed. He apologised for tho absence of Mr. W. Freeman, who waA on a visit to Auckland.

Messrs. W. C. Stephens and E. Bucholz were reappointed auditors at the remuneration of fifteen, guineas.