LIVING FLAG DISPLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 10

LIVING FLAG DISPLAY

ADMISSION CHARGES CRITI-

CISED

A correspondent signing himseli "Britisher" has written to "The Post* inquiring if it is correct that a charge of 2s per adult is to be made for admission to Newtown Park on Monday, next, on the occasion of the presentation of the "Living Flag" before Their, Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York. He represents that a very large number iof people -will not be able' to afford such a charge, and protests against it on the ground that "not only do the citizens of Wellington and the surrounding districts wish! to see the Living Hag performed, but they also want to pay homage to our; Royal Visitors on that occasion, without any handicap of charges being; made at the gate of a public park. Furthermore, I contend that on such aa auspicious occasion there should be no such thing as reserved seats (only with the exception of our distinguished visitors) so that everybody would bo placed on the same level with regard to paying our homage .to our» Royal visitors." - • ' i " - On our correspondent's complaint being conveyed to a member of the Tattoo Executive he stated that it was quite true that a c'arge of 2s for adults was being imposed. The executive was forced to make this charge-for admission to all performances on ,tho ground of the great expense of the, undertaking, and the fact that, whether wet or fine for one or more performances, it has to pay 20s'in.the. £. In the cas^J of the "Living Flag" the cost of the hoods, being used is over £400, while the executive also has to pay if or the free transport to and from the •park twice (once for rehearsal and once for the actual performance) of the children, who, together -with their headmasters and teachers, will number; fully 4100. As the whole of these 4100, together with the 1700 additional performers who will appear in other items on the programme presented during the afternoon, will be admitted free, thia means that there will be a fiee gate to no less than SSOO people. The hirenge, cost of the pageantry and other properties secured from London is no less than £3000, besides, which there are' heavy local expenses for materials purchased here. The cost of the 1700 rei served seats, which have been erected,is £600, 'which works out at 7s per: seat. For these a charge of only 3s is being made. It is unreasonable, there* fore, for anyone to suggest that these! seats should be let free of charge. Already some citizens have offered as much as 10s 6d for these reserved seats, but the executive is not taking advantage of such offers, adhering to the 3a charge only. If the whole of the material being used in the Pageant -knd the services of the performers had'to be paid for —the services of the performers are all being jjiven free_ q£ charge—the cost of the productionj would be well over £30,001). If tlie weather is wet during the week the executive will be faced with the problem of having to meet expense *, and is grateful to the Queen Carflidato Committees for the support th^y "are giving to the undertaking. If on tlie other hand a profit is made, the whole of this will be devoted to the benefit of serving Territorials and Seniojj Cadets, so that the whole community! will benefit. The admission charge f<Mj such a production is consequently ionsidered more than reasonable, and I'is very much less than has to be paid-forj similar performances elsewhere. Moreover, the people of Wqjl ington havo never complained athavSng to pay regularly, year in and year out, higheij prices for very.much less coatly proi ductions. , . ' ~"i