HUGH J. WARD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 28, 28 October 1926, Page 12

HUGH J. WARD

AN INTERESTING COMMUNICATION ON HIS RETIREMENT Writing to a friend in Wellington, Mr. Hugh J. Ward endorsed the report of his retirement from the Ward Theatres Proprietary, Ltd. ‘‘l am temporarily retiring from the business, as the enclosed article will show. I found it very tiring continually going to America and England and back For instance, I have been two trips across and back in nine months. “There have been talks here of mergers, amalgamations, and all the rest of it, and I thought it would be a very good thing for me at the psychological moment to retire on a cash oasis. Ims has been accomplished and we are finishing under the friendliest conditions. There is still an open door for me out here to produce a play if I wish but I can just please myself, for I don t have to worry any more. In fact, if I passed Rockefeller in the street I would give a mental snort, and turn mv head away. So here we are all m the best of health. Mrs. Ward and niyself will go for a lovely holiday abroad. I am not making any plans, except of course that I intend to come back to Australia to live. I must pop into Wellington some time when I have time, and I would like to see you and all the lads of the village, and see how things are going. Personally I think I am the happiest theatrical man in this country, for the reason that I am not entangled in anything, and I am free of all the unpleasantnesses of the game. Therefore, I will let them do all the haggling and messing about, while I shaft go forth and enjoy mys.elf, and when it suits my purpose I shall do things or not, according to my own personal desire. So rejoice with me as an old friend. Thank the people of New Zealand if you will, in some way, for their great kindness and loyalty during my active part in the business. Also tell them I shall certainly help them at any time I can in the public service, should the opportunity present itself. .... , “All the family join in the very best to you and yours.” . The enclosure announcing Mr. Ward s retirement is as under:— “Probably no other Australian citizen has done so much for chanty as Mr. Hugh J. Ward, not only through his theatrical efforts, but by his time and money. Popular with all sections of the community, his chief, aim is the encouragement and fostering of art in all its forms. Prior to settling in New South Wales, he toured. New Zealand, where he collected, in an honorary capacity, £lB,OOO for the erection of the Children’s Hospital at Wellington; and a further £ll,OOO for the addition of a wing to the Dunedin Hospital. He is a life director of Sydney He has collected many thousands of pounds for other Sydney hospitals, including £12,000 for St. Vincent’s and £7OOO for the Women s Hospital. He still annually collects hundreds of pounds for their upkeep. Among other benevolent acts he secured subscription £5OOO for the widow of the late Captain Scott the Antarctic explorer; £2OOO for the dependants of men who lost their lives in a surf bathing disaster near Sydney; and similar atpounts in like causes. “During the war period he was asked bv the Government of New South Wales to raise funds for Belgium Day, to which it was pledged. Mr Wards efforts realised £142,000. Of this, £21,000 was derived from a gala matinee performance in Sydney. The. receipts were a world’s record. For this service Mr. Ward received from the King ot the Belgians the Order of Knight of St. Leopold. He was the moving spirit in promoting Australia Day, designed to assist the returned wounded soldiers. which realised £BOO,OOO. He collected £40,000 for the A.I.F. Memorial Dav; and his idea of the Red Cross badge “drive” brought in another £4a,000.' He personally induced tions amounting to upwards of £5,000,000 to-the Commonwealth War Loans. “Some years ago he was commissioned bv the Government of the State to visit'Europe and America in .connection with the proposed creation of a Conservatorium of Music, and as a result of his investigations the Sydney Conservatorium was brought into existence.