A GROUP THEATRE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24569, 18 May 1945, Page 2

A GROUP THEATRE

MISS NGAIO MARSH’S * SUGGESTION “I want you to consider whether you would like to have a group theatre in New Zealand,” said Miss Ngaio Marsh, speaking at a luncheon meeting of the Young Contingent of the Victoria League held at Heath’s yesterday. Miss Marsh explained that the suggestion was that a producer and possibly some professional players should be brought from England and become the nucleus of a society that, with New Zealanders, would form a company competent of presenting first-class plays, with suitable scenery and dressing. Miss Marsh said that in earlier days in New Zealand companies of good players visited the country frequently and staged good plays, but she felt sure that any of her audience who were under 30 years old and had hot been out of New Zealand had never seen first-class players. Mrs Gerald Sherman, president of the Young Contingent, presided at the meeting and welcomed Miss Marsh and members of the committee of the Victoria League. Mrs O. A. Y. Johnston thanked Miss Marsh for her fine address, and Mrs W. S. Bean, acting-president of the league congratulated the youtjg membars on the good work they were carrying out with marked success.

GENERAL SERVICE CORPS

“We have to raise more than three million pounds and that’s a hefty sum,” said Mr J. L. Hay, chairman of the National Savings Committee, when addressing the onnual meeting of the General Service Corps in the Chamber of Commerce Hall yesterday. He was asking the help of members tof the corps for Family Savings Day, when it was hoped that 40,000 homes in the city and suburbs would be visited to collect folders, posted earlier, asking householders to record their promises of contributions to the Victory Loan. Last year, Mr Hay recalled, the retail shops had released 1000 of their staffs and these collectors brought in offers of contributions amounting to nearly £80,(WO. Mrs R. A. Ambrldge presided at the meeting, which agreed to support the Family Savings Day appeal. She said that the stamps committee of the corps had been instrumental in having £13,000 saved and it now set itself a new target—to have saved £25,000 by May, 1946, and to have 150 sellers. Mr T. N. Smallwood, chairman of the New Zealand National War Savings Committee, in commending the work of the General Service Corps’ stamp sellers, said he wished the scheme, carried out so successfully an Christchurch, was general throughout New Zealand. Thrift, he said, was the rock on which national, savings had been based, and inflation had been prevented. Those Who saved apd encouraged others to save were serving their country well if not spectacularly and were helping to ensure peace and security. The personal topch introduced by the General Service Corps was of great value and would form links that would continue into the future. Mr A. M. Hollander, chairman of the 1945 Victory Loan General Committee, attended the meeting and before the business session amusing elocutionary items were given by Mrs W. H. Collins. WOMEN’S INSTITUTES Mairehau.—There was an excellent attendance of members at the May meeting of the Mairehau Women's Institute. Mrs Judd'presided. Sympathy was expressed with Mrs Waugh and Mrs Sanders, two members who had recently suffered bereavements. Two visitors, the Misses Bints, from the Waikato district, were welcomed. Miss O'Connell read an article for the golden thread. The president reported on the federation meeting recently held in Christchurch. Much amusemeqt was caused when members answered to the roll call, which was a spelling bee conducted by Mrs Waugh. Competitions, judged by Mrs Aitken and the Misses Bint, resulted as follows:—bejt-bloom: Miss Spriggs 1, Mrs Young 2, Mrs Coleman 3. Knitting bag; Miss Arnott 1, Mrs Smith 2, Mrs Coleman 3. Three fruit squares: Mrs Smith 1, Mrs Sturgiss 2, Mrs Coleman 3. Hostesses were Mesdames Rossiter, Harvey, Perry, Miss Adams, and Miss Robertson.