Reporter’s Diary

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 2

Reporter’s Diary

Poets’ benefit SOME leading contemporary poets plan to get together for a “benefit” poetiy reading at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre, Ilam, on Thursday evening to help launch a new literary magazine called “Pilgrims.” The editor is Stephen Higginson, who says its purpose is to give younger and relatively unestablished writers and artists a chance to appear in print, alongside those who are more widely known both in New Zealand and overseas. The benefit reading will help finance the first issue. Eight poets will read poems, short stories, translations, and essays, and Phil Whalmeley will provide some original folk music. Among the poets involved are Alistair Paterson, Trevor Reeves, Rachel McAlpine, Pat White, Barry Southam, Lyall Benjamin, Michael Harlow (at right), and Stephen Higginson. 50 husbands

SCOTLAND YARD is investigating an allegation that a British woman has married 50 illegal immigrants to provide them with permanent residence in Britain. She is alleged to have, been paid about $2OO for each marriage, and to have used wigs and other disguises on her regular visits to London registry offices. Her husbands are said to have been Turks, Cypriots, Indians, and Egyptians, who met their bride only for the ceremony. After paying her fee, they never saw her again. Holiday sites

SIX holiday cottage sites in the Lewis Pass were allotted by ballot by the Department of Lands and Survey on Friday. Each one had previously been allotted to someone else, but in each case the person concerned had forfeited the site because of failure to meet the main condition—erection of a holiday cottage for personal occupation and use within two years. The sections do not become freehold until that happens; a temporary licence is issued at first. Only 22 prospective bachowriers applied for the six sections, which were priced at $lOOO and $l2OO. Two of them were at the Ministry of Works camp, and the other four in the Boyle River area. Conductors’ fees FEES asked by the Canterbury Orchestra Trust and its conductor, Mr Dobbs Franks, have given the Town Hall Board of Management second thoughts about going into a joint production of “Cinderella” with the Southern Ballet Theatre. Mr Patrick Connell, the Town Hall manager, told the board that the production was expected to cost $20,531, including $4381 for the orchestra and $lBOO for the conductor. Mr Franks had originally

asked $3600 for the seven performances, said Mr Connell. After hearing the fees sought, the board decided not to approve the joint venture yet, but to refer it to its executive committee. If the board was surprised at the conductor’s asking price, it would have been astonished at the fees sought by top conductors elsewhere. The Brighton Philharmonic Society in Britain has recently complained that Sir George Solti asked about $4OOO to conduct one concert. This led to the revelation that leading conductors are among the highest fee earners in the world. Top of the league is Herbert von Karajan, who gets more than $6OOO, then come Solti, Karl Bohm, and Leonard Bernstein at about $4OOO. Daniel Barenboim gets $3OOO to $4OOO. And those fees are for one concert only. Immunity PARKING tickets are the only automatic immunity that now remains' for American Congressmen and other privileged Government officials in Washington. Police Chief Maurice Cullinane has decided that in future lawbreaking Congressmen can be arrested like any other miscreant citizens. He is challenging the part of the Constitution which rules that senators and members of the House of Representatives should not be ar-

rested while travelling to or from Congress, except for felony, treason, or breach of the peace. Too busy THERE is no-one living in the police house next, to the Kaiapoi Police Station, because whoever tries to live there never gets any peace. The Mayor of

Kaiapoi (Mr B. O. Williams) told this month’s Borough Council meeting that that was why the man who had been living in the house had moved to Woodend The council wants more policemen in the town, but even a personal visit to the Minister of Police (Mr McCready) has not done the trick. He told Cr J. McKenzie that if Kaiapoi had a third policeman it would have to have a sergeant. Mr Williams told the council that the two Kaiapoi policemen were expected to switch the telephone connections to their own homes after they went off duty at night. A telephone had now been installed in the station foyer, giving the public direct access to the Christchurch central station. Galah ONE CHRISTCHURCH man’s impulse purchase the other day proved an expensive one. He was admiring an Australian rosebreasted cockatoo — a galah — in a pet shop, and became so enamoured of the bird that he decided to buy it. The impulse cost him $250. And the pet shop man said that it was cheap. Two others had changed hands in Christchurch recently for $350 each. The high price is caused by the fact that the galah is an illegal immigrant — and emigrant. He’s not allowed out of Australia or into New Zealand, so there aren’t many around. The galah’s new owner was advised to feed ft on unshelled peanuts and sunflower seeds. When he heard the price, he wanted to know more about it — would he get value for money? “He (or she) will see you out,” said the vendor. “They live to 120.” — Garry Arthur