THE HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1413, 12 April 1881, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

[to THE EDITOR.] Dear Sir —We beg to be allowed space in your valuable paper to correct the mistakes or wilful misrepresentations made by your correspondent “ Subscriber ” in his letter on “ The Hospital Management,” which appeared in your issue yesterday. In the first place no such a sum as X 25 is to be paid to the Comedy Company for giving a performance in aid of the funds of the Hospital ; but an amount which barely covers their expenses for the one night here. So that the question for “ whose benefit is it got upl” can only receive one answer, as the Committee do not intend to pocket the proceeds* but to place them to the credit of the Hospital account in the Bank. The next question—“ What is the reason of the change being made from one Theatre to the other ]” we take to be the one which has caused “ Subscriber ” anxiety on the matter, and hence his letter, which could never have emanated from a well-wisher to the Hospital. First, the Adel phi Theatre is considered preferable to the Royal as it has superior accommodation in the shape of a dress circle, where those willing to pay the extra price and so increase the proceeds can see the performance and go in and out when they chose, and not be crushed (as would be the case at the Royal if there is a large attendance as usual on a benefit for the Hospital); and, second, that the proprietor is more obliging and renders more assistance to the Committee on such occasions. “ Subscriber ” goes on to say, “No one as a rule objects to attend a performance at the Royal.” We have never heard anyone object to attend performances at the Adelphi, as has been shown on a former occasion, when the largest performance that, has ever been in this town was assembled in that Theatre for a Hospital benefit. With the question of “ money spent outside,” the Committee have nothing to do. The statement that the Comedy Company were not aware of the change is false ; and if they disapproved of it, they never made it known to the Committee as those of the Company with whom the arrangements were made stated that they had no feeling in the matter, and would as soon play at one Theatre as the other. With regard to the charge of speculating with the Hospital funds the committee are of opinion that they are acting for the best in having this benefit, and trust that the entertainment will be largely patronised, as on former occasions, and that

the gloomy forebodings of “ Subscriber” that the funds will not be benefited - , even the Government subsidy oh. the same is deceived, will not be realised. The Committee have no intention of slighting the amateurs, but are glad to receive h helping hand from them. At the same time they thought the performance by the Comedy Company too good an opportunity to be lost, especially as the amount for their expenses will be eleveh shilling’s less than the expenses of the last entertainment given by amateurs and their expenses were curtailed as much as possible. We beg to apologise for the length of this letter, but considered that “ Subscriber’s ” was likely to be prejudicial to the interest of the Hospital; if not fully replied to. (Signed), by order of the Itospital Committee, W. Nicholson, Secretary. Kumara, April 12, 1880.