ALL-NEW ZEALAND MATINEE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 92, 18 April 1940, Page 18

ALL-NEW ZEALAND MATINEE.

The news from London this week ;hat the all-New Zealand matinee at His Majesty's on April 15 had raised over £5000 (funds for comforts for Mew Zealand troops with H.M. Forces), -vas received with interest and graticude. At a meeting before the matinee, Lord Bledisloe, in whose London house the committee met, stated that each of the four shipping companies trading with New Zealand had donated £100 each, and the P. and O. Company £50. Mr. Shayle Gardner, formerly of Auckland, organised the matinee, those contributing items being John Amadio (flautist), Hubert Carta (tenor), Denis Dowling (a fine young baritone), Esther Fisher (leading New Zealand pianist), Merton Hodge (a play in which he appeared), David Low (who drew people selected by the audience, his work subsequently being auctioned by Leslie Henson), Wainwright Morgan (pianist and composer), Hinemoa Rosieur (a wonderful soprano), Arnold Trowell (eminent 'cellist), Hector Bolitho, Rosina Buckman (who came specially out of retirement after fifteen years), lan Coster, Eileen Driscoll (singer of Maori songs, in costume), Kathleen Levi (gifted pianist and holder of many _ medals), Tawera Moana (the only Maori in England, who trained eighteen boys from New Zealand House to do two hakas), Stella Murray (contralto), Harry Rountree (cartoonist and artist, who designed the New Zealand poster), Keith Wilbur, and Sir Hugh Walpole. The working committee that helped the organiser included Lady Bledisloe (Constance, Duchess of Westminster as her deputy),. Countess Jellicoe, Mrs. E. S. Harston, Mrs. W. J. Jordan, Lieutenant-General Sir A. J. Godley, Mr. Arthur. Sims, Mr. Hal Williams, and Sir Donald Simson. The theatre was lent free of charge by the Associated Theatre Properties, and Messrs. Tom Arnold and Harry Foster. Warwick Braithwaite- (Dunedin) conductor at Sadlers Wells Theatre, conducted the orchestra for the i matinee, playing New Zealand composi- ' tions. ;