A TENSE STRUGGLE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 309, 15 December 1936, Page 7

A TENSE STRUGGLE.

WILL PLAY EE PRODUCED? ‘‘TILL THE DAY I DIE.” MELBOL’ILXL, Nov. 17. Announced for presentation by the Workers’ Theatre group in Dollingwood Town Hall, the Udet play, "Til. the Day I Die,” became the centre to-day of a tense struggle betweer members of the group and their supporters, municipal officers, ami Government departments. ”It shall go on," say the Hieatri group, supported by the Mayor o Collingwood (Cr. L. Marshall', win booked the Town Hall in his own name for Hie performance. “ It. shall not go on," says the towr clerk (Mr N. Graham) and 12 members of the Collingwood Council, i< agreement with the, feelings of the Chief Secretary' (Mr Bailey). Meanwhile, preparations for Hu performance are going ahead, and Hu group released a statement to-day advising the 1500 people, who have obtained invitations, to attend and witness the play.

All Legal Precautions. “We have taken all legal precautions,” said a member of the group “ uur position is perfectly sound, am: we shall not be breaking the law.” The Mayor said he did not recognise a letter and a cheque refunding the hiring fees, which lie received today. as a cancellation of the hall. The letter was from the town clerk informing him that by the authority ot lus fellow-councillors the engagement of the hall had been cancelled. It was despatched yesterday after a letter had been written to the town clerk, and signed by 12 councillors, of whom six are members of the Labour Party. “ 1 have had legal opinion that, as Mayor of the city, I- have plenary powers with regard to the hall tonight, regardless of the fact that it is booked in my name," said the Mayor. “At the same time I regret ttiai some of my colleagues in Collingwood have turned the Labour Party into a Fascist party by banning a simple truth,” he continued.

Stupid Censorship of Truth. “ The people of Australia, in my opinion, are not behind Mr Lyons in this stupid censorship of facts and truth, any more than the people of Germany are voluntarily behind Nazism.” Among the councillors opposed to the play two of the principal movers are (T. T. J. Kane and Cr. H. Sparks Cr. Kane, while admitting that he had not read the play, nor the Theatre Act. nor any gazette notice announcing the ban, said that in Ids opinion an attempt, had been made- to use the hall for Communistic purposes. •' In my opinion,” he said, “it is desirable in the interests of the general public that the play should not be "orformed.” » The Police. Department stated that one or two extra police would be on duty to-night.