UNWELCOME WIT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1933, Page 5

UNWELCOME WIT

CrrARITY: CONCERT ETEL'CIL OEMANDS APOLOGY. (Pt Press Assoriation— (jopyright.) WELLINGTON, Juno 26. The City , Council intends demanding an apology from Frank . Neil,, the director of a comedy company playing here, for remarks, made on Sunday night at a concert .allegedly having the effect of making the-; Town' Clerk, Mr E. P. Norman, ridiculous. The -company had , agreed to give • a concert in aid of the ‘‘Smith Family” Distress Tund. , The Council: requires, that all programmes shall be submitted to the Town Clerk for approval. or otherwise. Some confusion occurred.-regarding an, appointment to discuss some df !ithe . details in . com nection .with the dialogue, but the; concert proceeded-' according to ..plans*, M r Neil making humourous references to the City Censor. ... The Mayor reported-. the matter to the Council. pt.its jpe-eting .to-day, when Councillors remarked‘/that .it wag unfair that the .Clerk should be ,submitted to trouble *nd;' affronts,, in.. .: reviewing' programmes.. _ , ' Eventually .„it .whs "’decided : to : demand.; an 'apology. ( . Mr Neil says: were giving their only,- jfree.i.piglit ,ti> aid-; the ■ distressed. The , Tpwji ’ Clerk '.had. made an jabsurd /jrcquesF,';.,- rekjng , fov- -the, full'.words to 'be,given^yf,,Wallace.andBeck. They■ we£e co.mcfiiaii s .not.mbncIqgue artists.. .Re vh?,s /cprifidence that they did , not . priate.'’ “Their performance ..gave pleasure,’-’.-he- said.;,; '“lt ,-.raised much needed. money dor, a,, deserving cause. Thi s is 1933.' Smug hypocrisy should take a back, s eat-to-,tfie,-peecLs of the moment.’*. ,1 !