A THEATRICAL BOYCOTT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10719, 13 September 1912, Page 6

A THEATRICAL BOYCOTT

Unionism has not been long in coming into conflict with lion-unionism in the Australian theatrical world. When the last- mail left- Melbourne the Council of tho Theatrical Industrie,'. Association, which comprise:! representatives from the actors , Aaudeville artists', super-numeraries', stage hands', and museums' unions, ' were boycotting a matinee arranged, by the Actors' Association in aid of a beneiit and pension fund for stage folk. Tho Actors' Union was started in Sydney early in tho year, and became affiliated with the Trades Hall Council. It :s stated, however, than some of tho leading players were notconsulted about the movement, and these ladies and gentlemen are today members of the Actors' Association. Hitherto the members of both organisations have taken part together in 'entertainments for the benefit ..of members of the profession, and tho boycott came as a considerable surprise to the promoters of the matinee. The reason given was that the Association was considered to bo "diametrically opposed to the interests and principles of trade unionism." Tho Marshall Hall orchestra is experiencing trouble of tho same kind, for, having joined the "Independent Workers' '' organisation, it is obnoxious to unionists. The Musicians' Union has been boycotting unionists for some months, and it came first into coniliet with Professor Marshall-Hall because, while paving union wages ,ho \vould not give preference to unionists in engaging players. The matinee promoters were temporarily embarrassed, for without orchestra, .stage hands, ushers, and ticket-sellers they did not see how the entertainment was to lie held, but so £oon a.'i their difficulties were made known, leading players offered their services. Miss.Grace Palotta- offered to act as usher ,and before long complete arrangements were made for looking after tho audience. The® Independent Musicians' Union promised to supply the music . According to the Argus, success was surcd." The Marshall-Hall orchestra management got out of their difficulty in the same way. Faced with a boycott by stage hands and ushers they decided to "do the work themselves. IV will be interesting to see how much further the unions will go next, time they test the strength of ino I Actors' Association.