"SLAVES OF THE LAMP"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6

"SLAVES OF THE LAMP"

TRADE UNION COMEDY IN A THEATRE. The equality of life as practised in communal settlements docs not appear to apply to members of theatrical unions, observes the Sydney "Sun":—A lamp was recently left behind by the properly-msn nt one of the theatres, , and when the scone-shifters were requested to remove it they said, "That,' ain't; nil scenery." As a result a deadlock was reached, and the lai>j}> remained. The sceneshifter put it 011 to tho property-man, the property-man put it 011 to tho spotlight operator, tho spot-light operator thought it tho wurlc of the electrician, tho electrician thought it the work of the call-boy, but the call-boy, being the mighty atom of the theatre, told the stage-manager. The complaint was well 011 its way to reaching the chief director when someone stole the lamp. This is the story which has been going the rounds this week concerning a dif-fi-rence of opinion between members of the Theatrical Employees' Association and .1. C. Williamson's, as a result of which twelve employees censed work after giving the firm twenty-four liouivi' notice. The trouble, it Is said, arose regarding certain work outlined in Ihe .'ward. A conference was held between the purtie.-? before Mr. Holme, \vith the result that the men agreed In resume duty on existing conditions.

Tlic intcrcliangea.bilily »f work in subdepartments—scene shifting, properly, mill lights, proved a stumbling-block between the pin-tic's, and it was Imvsi they could not come to an agreement that, the employees gave tho linn notice of intention to cease work. The i|iicstion of demarcation anions thcalrical employees has . been tlic source of frequent arguments in the past).