A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 9

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

(THE SUN'S Special Correspondentj SYDNEY, March 22. The appearance of Mrs. Angela Pankhurst W albh, the wife of the former seamen s leader, on any platform these days, is like a red rag to the militant section of the Communist Party. Not that these young women are unaccustomed to red rags. Far from it. They revel in red flags. A deliberate attempt to break up Mrs. Walsh’s meeting this week at the Adyar Hall (generally devoted to sex problem movies, or theosophy), succeeded admirably. It was Mrs. "Walsh’s intention to denounce the militant control of the timber strike. < ries, however. of “Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot,” prevented her from being heard. The hall was packed w ith timberworkers’ wives, led by the young Communist girls employed in the Sydney Trades Hall. Donald Grant, and other extremists, were on duty outside the hall. After the meeting which ended in a riot, poor Mrs. Walsh, who has devoted many years of a strenuous life to the so-called “class struggle” was hooted as she walked down Bligh Street. Someone impertinently offered her a bouquet, and then snatched it away. It, too, was red. It was composed of red roses. ... Memories of the Pollard Davs A little old man, interesting in his way, stepped off the Tahiti the other day. Henry Pollard, who was conductor of the Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company, the combination of the eighties, of which another generation still talk, had not seen Sydney for 30 ~» ears ’ • f ounc * if very much changed. A quaint little figure in a semi-mili-tary black felt hat, a so-called Union s y i *l'i_ a collar and tie reminiscent of the Early Victorians at their best (or worst), he looked for all the world like that “dear old Southern gentlema.n, the Cul’onel,” beloved by the American movie director. Mr. Pollard’s speech these days is a curious admixture of English and American. Quite unexpectedly, he will shoot at nne an enthusiastic “Sure!” New Zealand of the ’Eighties Mr. Pollard was a member of that organisation which visited Christchurch under the direction of the late Ton, Pollard, and carried off May and Maude Beatty to w’in theatrical fame abroad. He told me how, in the ’eighties, he travelled by coach from Napier to Masterton, through the famous Forty Mile Bush district, where now, hardly a vestige of the once great forest stands. Maoris were in charge of the canoes at the rivers where the old Cobb coaches found difficulty in crossing. For many years Mr. Pollard has lived in the United States. He has followed his original occupation of mining engineer in all parts of the continent. A year or so ago, strange to say, in Buenos Ayres, he met Maude Beatty, now settled in the Argentine, the former Christchurch girl whom he taught her first role in “The Gondoliers.” Sydney Diocesan Missioner The Rev. Dr. G. E. Weeks, who recently commenced his duties as diocesan missioner in the Diocese of Sydney, is a former Dean of Nelson. He graduated M.A. at Cambridge, received his B.D. degree at Durham, and secured an LL.D. at Dublin. Ordained in 1892, the new missioner held various appointments in England, South Africa and New Zealand, and was made headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Sydney, in 1923. Clay Smith Back Clay Smith, the husband of Lee Whited one of the finest vaudeville artists New’ Zealand ever saw’, is back in Sydney. Such a combination, severed by the tragic death of his wife in America, w r ill be extremely difficult to form again. The comedian, who is a very sad little man these days, is still hopeful of a "come back.” So few theatricals who have tasted the sweets of success know when to take their last curtain. Test Stars at Theatre Alan Kip pax and Don Bradman were guests of the Fuller management at the St. James this week to see “Lido Lady.” They presented bats which they had given as prizes in aid of a competition for the Sydney Hospital. Sir Benjamin, who can never decline an opportunity for a little speech from his own stage, also auctioned a bat given by Kippax and autographed by the champion batsman. It was bought by Charlton Morton. Sailing for Home Margaret Bannerman, and her husband. Anthony Prinsep, will be passengers for England by the Mongolia from Melbourne at the week-end. Though Melbourne was particularly responsive to the English artists, especially toward the close of the tour, Sydney assuredly was not. It is doubtful whether the Bannerman visit has been responsible for any considerable profit for the Williamson management. Margaret, an expensive artist, also had expensive ways. _ ERIC raMSDEN.