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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9649, 4 July 1919, Page 5

Theatrical managements will be hit very hard by the drastic curtailments in the railway services. The position will be even more serious, to managements than in the past, for under a recent agreement members of the chorus and ballet are paid from the day their agreement commences, and no loss of time is allowed. With principals the principle followed is that of no play, no pay"; so that when three days are occupied on the journey from Wellington to Auckland (instead ot one) the actor will feel it acutely. Hitherto companies have been able to tour New Zealand with a loss ot only three or four playing nights, but the altered train services render that impossible. It may be possible with small companies to remodel tours to fit in to some extent with the new timetable, but with the larger companies who only play the more important centres it will not be possible to pre^ vent a good many "lazy nights." Small companies, too, may be able to use motor-cars to reach their playing points, but that is of little use without the scenery and effects, which have to travel by train or boat.