THEATRE GROUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 9

THEATRE GROUP.

BIG AMALGAMATION. FULLERS' ENTERPRISE. DEMAND FOR. LUXURY. "NO ATTEMPT AT MONOPOLY." Ninety theatres are involved in the merger "under which the firm of John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., takes over complete control of the Fuller-Hayward circuit. Sir Benjamin Fuller, in stating yesterday that negotiations had been completed, said that New Zealand stood to benefit greatly by the reorganisation of the business. The firm had over theatres in New Zealand and over bO in Australia, but, generally speaking, the Australian theatres were larger than those in the Dominion. A policy of continued improvement? in the accommodation will be earned out, and although the New Zealand public is well catered for at present, it is recognised that luxurious _ comfort is demanded in the modern picture house to-day. For the purposes of central control the head office of the company will be transferred from Auckland to Wellington, and Sir Benjamin states that Mr. John Fuller and himself will be chiefly resident in Wellington. A seat on the board of directors would be retained by Mr. Walter Fuller, of Wellington. Mr. Henry Hayward, of Auckland, is the vice-chair-man, and during the absence of Sir Benjamin Fuller or Mr. John Fuller from New Zealand, Mr. C. M. Ollivier, of Christchurch, will act in their place. There is a probability that the theatres may be used for other than talkies, as New Zealand will in a general way get whatever comes to Australia, states Sir Benjamin. Wherever it is practicable grand opera companies or other special forms of entertainment will be brought to the Dominion. There is no attempt to create a monopoly, Sir Benjarnia adds, and there never will be. An improvement in business conditions in Australia which will probably be reflected in the theatrical field, is expected by Sir Benjamin before the end of this year. He considers that the present depression is only temporary, and no very great differences are yet being found in the returns of most theatres. "As far as the Auckland district is concerned the management will remain the same," said Mr. Phil Hayward, one of the directors this morning. He added that the Auckland province does onethird of the business of the company in the Dominion, and that St. Jame*' Theatre would now be a unit in the chain. His Majesty's Theatre in Wellington will be renamed St. James' and it is probable that the Opera House in Christchurch and the Princess in Dnnedin will also be called St. James' Theatres later.