The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 16, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 879, 16 August 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 16, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

That good can sometimes come out of evil no one will deny. We cannot say that the ‘‘Girl from Rectors” as produced by the Hugh Ward Co., was altogether evil or calculated to suggest evil thoughts in the minds of those who witnessed the production. We didn’t see the show. We did hear of a lady who said that she would have felt very uncomfortable had she witnessed the performance as a single young woman. But that’s hearsay. The Wellington press said there was nothing dreadful in the performance, and that some people would make harm out of anything. The posters which heralded the company, to say the least, were not modest. Anyhow, the Revs. Dr. Gibb and North on reading a criticism of the play which appeared in the columns of the Auckland Star and which was reproduced in the Wellington Post, warned the people against it through the columns of the press and from their pulpits. This proved a splendid advertisement tor the “Girl” who, however, did not perform up to the Auckland Star’s reputation. Anyhow, Mr Ward heard that a movement was afoot to raise funds for a children’s hospital, and instead of holding the fort against the bombardment of the clerics he directed his guns towards funds for the children’s hospital. With the help of his company he raised 2s 8d and with the assistance of Wellington citizens a magnificent sum exceeding has been collected. Mr Ward is deserving of praise for his humanitarian efforts in this connection. We do not agree with those who condemn Dr. Gibb and the Rev. Mr North for their outspoken criticism of the play. They were actuated by the highest motives and it is their privilege and duty, as it is the privilege and duty of every cleric, to jealously guard the morals of the community, despite the sneers and jeers of the careless and indifferent. Perhaps Mr Ward will be remembered in the future as the man who did so much towards establishing the children’s hospital rather than for introducing “ The Girl from Rectors” to Wellington.