Who’s Who on the Aorangi

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 11

Who’s Who on the Aorangi

The R.M.M.S. Aorangi Teacbed Auckland this morning from Sydney cm her way to Vancouver. She encountered rough waarher crossing the Tasman, but arrived in port at daybreak. The Aorangi carried 303 passengers and a big consignment of mails for New Zealand. Dr. E. H. Knowles, a specialist from the Prince Albert Hospital, Sydney, will spend some weeks in New Zealand before sailing for Europe, where he will continue his studies in X-ray work. Mr. J. Rennie, a well-known Christchurch business man, returned from a tour abroad. He is accompanied by Mrs. Rennie. Brother Wilfrid, of Auckland, who has been finishing his education as a Marist Brother at Mittagong, near Sydney, for the last 18 months, has returned to this city and will be taking up duties in New Zealand. Mr. E. A. O. Vervooren, a promlnem commercial man in the Dutch East Indies, has been on a holiday vißit to Australia in company with his wife They are en route to Europe. Business in the Indies is suffering acutely in sympathy with the world-wide depression, says Mr. Vervooren. Mr. Lionel Bridge, of the Sydney wool firm of John Bridge and Company, is on his way to spend a holidav in Honolulu.

“Business is good." The only man who seemed at all optimistic abou business generally was Mr. R. M. Hatfield, managing director of the W T estern Electric Company for Australia. He arrived to confer with Mr. J. H. Barker, junr.. managing director of the company in New Zealand. “We are selling equipment as fast as we can get it,” remarked Mr. Hatfield. “Theatre business in Australia has dropped off to practically nothing. More theatres are losing money than making it.” Mr. Hatfield does not think that the talkies will ever kill the legitimate stage. On the other hand he says they will create enthusiasm by excit ing public interest in the people seen on the screen. W r hen plays were first broadcast in New York people said it was the end of the theatre, but it had the reverse effect. Mr. Hatfield said that the Western Electric Company was manufacturing talking picture equipment in Australia and about 60 per cent, of the appara tus was now made there. Some of the % Australian-made equipment was already installed in New Zealand pic ture theatres. There was no question about the prevailing depression in Australia aDd it would be much worse before conditions improved again. However, he had no doubt about the country pulling through, as the people were exceedingly optimistic. Mr. Chester Woolworth. a representative of the firm which controls the chain stores of that name in the United States, is a through passenger. He has been visiting Australia and is returning to America with Mrs. Woolworth. Leon Gordon and his wife are. returning to the United States, where Mr. Gordon will make talking picture* for Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer. He wa>» not enthusiastic concerning the legitimate stage in Australia at present. but he thinks that it will return to its own when the country has recovered from its present depressed state. Mrs. Gordon, formerly an Adelaide girl, will also make her debut in the talkies. Mr. Gordon toured New Zealand last with “The Trial of Mary Dugan' and “Scandal.” * * * Air. E. H. Ennis, one of the principals of General Motors, is returning to the United States aftfT spending some time in Australia. Mr. X. C. Lenehan and Mr. A. Rutter, two of the officials of Horlick’s. Ltd.. Australia, are on their way England, via Canada. Mr. H. C. Tyler, general manager for Australia for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, is a through passenger on his way to visit his firm * factories in the United States and in Scotland. Although Ann Davis, the well-known New York actress, will not tour New Zealand on this occasion, she hopes to return under the management of Hugh D. Macintosh. She is returning to the United States after playing in Australia for some months, first as leading lady in William Faversham s company and later with Leon Gordon.

Miss Davis is not at all depressed about the stage and even if she were i she has a farm in Pennsylvania, wrhere ' she grows mushrooms and asparagus for the New York market. “I have a manager there but I always spend my week-ends on th*farm when I am near New York.” said this % morning. “Of course, if the stage does collapse, which T don’r i think is possible, I can always make a good profit from the farm.” But it is hardly likely that this . charming woman will desert the stage. | One of her biggest New York sue i cesses was in “The Outsider,” and ■ another wijh the famous E. H. Sothern in Brieux’s “Accused.” Before com | ing to Australia she played the lead in “The Marriage Bed” and she ap peared in numberless parts in Stuart Walker’s repertory company. Miss | Davis has done a great deal of reperi tory work and every summer, for fou** years, she appeared in repertory play® i in New York.