BILLETS FOUND FOR BALLET MEMBERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 10

BILLETS FOUND FOR BALLET MEMBERS

Eager Response to Appeal

ACCOMMODATION LACK OVERCOME

Willi an almost embarrassing eagerness, Wellington householders hastened last night to uphold New Zealand repulalion for hospitality. Responding to an urgent radio appeal to provide weekend accommodation for members of the Russian ballet, they laid siege to the New Opera House telephone for more than an hour. In that time temporary homes were found for 50 of the company who bad been unable to secure rooms in hotels or boarding-houses. r l'hc company reached Wellington by train early yesterday afternoon. More than half of their number found quarters, but 50 tired and rather bewildered visitors were still homeless by nightfall. An unusual number of Easter attractions had taxed the capacity of 'Wellington’s holiday accommodation, and rooms in city hotels and boardinghouses were not to bo had.

Throughout the afternoon Mr. Claude Kingston and Mr. John Farrell, of Messrs. J. C. 'Williamson, Ltd., were busy searching for suitable board and lodging, and a few rooms were found, but by the evening the supply had been exhausted. The Railway Department had been informed of the position, and arrangements had been made, as a last resort, for the homeless 50 to billet in the company’s special train. Then somebody thought of a public appeal. The station management _ of 2YA willingly obliged, aud Mr. Kingston sat himself at the New Opera House telephone to await results.

He got results. The response, in fact, was >so overwhelming that Mr. Kingston’s hardest task was not to place his large family, but to thank disappointed hosts ami to explain politely that he could take advantage of only a few of the offers which poured in. It said something more for Wellington hospitality that a large number of those who telephoned would not listen to talk of ‘‘terms.” They wanted the members of the ballet to be their guests. From the city, from Kelburn, Karori. and other suburbs the invitations camo. In several cases householders drove into town in their cars to pick up their guests. Calls came from as far afield as Eastbourne and Johnsonville.

Delighted with the speed at which their difficulties were being smoothed away, men and girls clustered about Mr. Kingston as he answered call after call. They chatted to each other in rapid French, studying the addresses handed to them as they awaited the arrival of cabs or private cars. A pretty girl with enormous eyes and brown hair that fell in soft waves to her shoulders was the last to leave the room. Each time the telephone rang she laughed merrily, applauding the luck of her friends.

“I, alas! I cannot go.” she said after hearing that one of Wellington’s bestknown hostesses was ready to place her absent daughter’s room at the disposal of a girl visitor. "I did not know the people of thees town were so kind. I engaged a room in a beeg hotel. This afternoon I thought I was - one of lhe lucky ones. But now I see lam of the unfortunates!”