CHORUS GIRLS' PAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 193, 10 May 1919, Page 5

CHORUS GIRLS' PAY

A MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL , ACTORS. ' (Prom'the "Times.") London, March 11. The Actors' Association is, continuing its efforts to obtain for all members of the theatrical profession n standard contract which , will include a minimum salary of ,£3 a week and payment for rehearsals. , Last week a deputation from the association. waited upon a sub-committeo of tho West End Theatre Managers' Association, representing the musical comedy theatres, and the position in that direction is that the managers have agreed to submit a scheme for tho consideration of the actors. Now tho other theatre managers have also agreed to meet a deputation from the Actors' Association, and this meeting will probably ba held next week. The invitation is extended by Mr. J. M. Gatti, president of the West End Theatre Managers' Association, and' the actors will be represented by Mr. Sydney Valentine, Mr. Norman M'Kinnet, Mr. Alfred Lugg, Mr. 0, V. Prance, Mr. George Tally, Mr. Dawson Millwnrd, Mr. J'isher White, Mr. Henry Oscar, Mr. Henry Vibart, Miss Lilian Braithwaite, and Miss Madgo -M'lntosh.

Some surprise has been expressed tli.it as yet no effort lias been mntlo to deal with theatrical conditions outside London, which admittedly lire in need .of. ui gent improvement. It was felt, howover, that if nn agreement could first he arrived at with the London managers the position for a general settlement of outstanding difficulties would- be considerably simplified. A meeting with the managers of touring companies has alloady been arranged, and is to be held as soon ns possible after the beginning of next month.

There is every hope that some kind of agreement on tho t| motion of a minimum salary and payment for rehearsals trill he arrived at. The; need for it is shown by the todting which at present fjoos; on in nn endeavour to obtain the services of chorus girls at a low salary. The chorus mistress of Drury LmU' Theatre, last week received a post-card from tht; producer of a revno which was due lo open in the country in a fortnight's time.' She was asked to inform fix ladies drsiring engagements at the end of the pantomime that they could have them in this revue at a commencing salary of ll'is. a. week. Tt was added that there was no commission to pay during (he run of Hie revue, flic only charge being os. for the contract.' The producer of Hie revue was informed in reply that the request was about as gross a piece of impertinence as Could be imagined; that with the present high price of living !)ss. a week is a starvation wage; and that ihe . minimum salary laid down by the Actors' Association is ■fli n week. The whole matter lias now been referred to the Actors' Association, which lias it under consideration. Hut this is bv no means an isolated en.e. and it is this stole of affairs which the members of the theatrical profession themselves aro now ' endeavouring lo remedy. i