SATURDAY NIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 7

SATURDAY NIGHTS

AND TOWN HALL BOOKINGS, In view ■ of the interest ;,which, lias been evinced in the question as tn whether- Saturday evening bookings ai> the Town Hall should be available for travelling companies and local societies and concerts, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) was approached for a pronouncement on the vexed question. Mr. Luke stated that it had been the policy of the council for years past to reserve Saturday evenings for the purpose of organ recitals, as that night was 'considered to be of the greatest advantage to the people who wished to enjoy the recitals. -Saturday night was now an off night for tho shops, which made it distinctly different to the times when it was the late night for business people. He judged by the overflow from the picture theatres that Saturday was now the popular show, night. Mr. Page had had. tremendous difficulties to contend with, as ■ he had commenced here shortly before the war, and had had to put up with wartime conditions, which included all kinds,of patriotic shows, for organ-recitals could scarcely 1)8 regarded as cheering it such times. Mr. Luke thought that if there was anyone in Wellington calculated to engendor enthusiasm in organ rccitJils it was Mr. Page, who was an artist of high repute. No doubt the attractiveness of organ recitals could be strengthened, but that would take time to do, and, in his 'flflSnion, orgah recitals should consist of organ music only, without the aid of any other form of music. As to the case of itinerant organisations or companies, he took the view that the Town Hall was not constituted to compete with other theatres. It belonged to the people, and should bo used for their own recitals.