The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April 18, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1032, 18 April 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April 18, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

AI'TKR allowing for all contingencies, the municipal pictures have returned a profit to the municipality of a little over for a period of three and a half months. There is no falling away in public patronage which indicates that picture entertainments have come to stay. Every entertainment discloses something entirely new, novel, and interesting. Is it, therefore, any wonder that second-class dramatic entertainments fail to draw local audiences? The counter attraction to the picture entertainments in the luture will have to be of considerable merit to attract a profitable audience. The handsome profits disclosed are accounted for by the very liberal patronage bestowed and the comparatively high prices charged for admission. We say comparatively, because the best picture houses in the large centres, screening absolutely new films, do not charge more than one sixpence for the pit. We do not know that there is a demand on the part of local patrons for a reduced admission tee, but they are at least entitled to newer or less worn films, and we are pleased to stale that arrangements have been made to place Eoxtou fifth on the list Kr new films instead of fifteenth as at present, and we should have been still more pleased to see the prices reduced conform with those charged in metropolitan centres. Some objection has been made to the increase in the Town Clerk’s salary by ,£35 per annum while acting as manager of the municipal enterprises. We think the increase is reasonable and justifiable. If .the pictures and skating are to be conducted properly, it is essential to employ a manager who has the confidence of the Council, and who thoroughly understands the details. It would be impossible to obtain the services of so capable a manager for the increase granted to the Town Clerk.