HELP FOR THE BELGIANS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 262, 15 April 1915, Page 2

HELP FOR THE BELGIANS

NOVEL THEATRICAL TOUR. NO PROFITS IX)R THE MANAGEMENT. If concentrated enthusiasm and care-fully-planned effort D,o essential factors of success, then the tour of the Pli'mruerIMI Dramatic Company should be a notable achievement in the annals of the stage of this country. "We had been reading in the Eng. Mali papers of what Sir Herbert Bcerbohm Tree, Miss Clara Butt and others were doing at Honje to help the great cause," said Mr. Plimmer, of the Plim-mer-llall Company, who are to appear in New Plymouth to-night week, "and all of a sudden it occurred to me that something could be done in a fairly big way out here. Here was this brave little nation shattered and torn to bits —for what? Just to preserve her honor among the nations. In Belgium's case there was probably not a scrap of paper binding her to fight, and she could have saved every life within the State, every historic building, millions of treasure, by merely allowing the German army a clear truck into France. On the other hand, there was her pledged neutrality and her independence as a nation to preserve and defend before all the world. She never hesitated for an hour. Germany's hordes were over the border advancing like a solid wall, before she could gird up her loins. But gird them she did, and when she stung she stung badly, and her action has unquestionably saved England and France from being in a much worse plight than they are to-day.

"We did intend originally to tour for the war fund, but the heart-breaking appeal for help that reached us in Melbourne a few weeks ago at once diverted our intention, and after consulting Mr. Massey we decided on giving all profits to the fund that is being raised in New Zealand to succor Belgium's starving millions. "I would like to' say," continued Mr. Pli miner, "that the effort we are about to make is an earnest attempt to do our utmost during the next two months to raise money for the fund, and I am insisting from the outset, and right through, that our receipts and expenses shall bo checked by a responsible odicer of some kind—either a Government official or an officer appointed for the purpose by the Mayor of the town we happen to be playing in. The artists we have engaged have met Mr. Hall and myself in a most generous spirit, and all are as keen to do all they can for the cause as we are. Before leaving Sydney we submitted our expense sheet to Mr. Hugh J. Ward, of the Williamson management, and he then stated that ho would write to his New Zealand friends assuring them that the tour had been arranged on the most economical basis.

"We have got together a highly capable company, and are to present two capital plays in Oscar Wilde's comedy, 'Lady Windermere's Fan,' and 'The Mummy and the Humming Bird,' so that we are not asking for something for nothing. Those people who are going to witness our performances throughout Now Zealand will have the double satisfaction of knowing that whilst they are getting full value for their money'they are at the same time helping those bereft people who have been reduced to such frightful extremes in holding back this Moloch among the nations."