NEW ZEALAND AND APPRECIATION OF THE BEST ARTISTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND APPRECIATION OF THE BEST ARTISTS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “One often hears complaints that New Zealand is rarely afforded the chance of hearing or seeing the best artists or* exhibitions,” said the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Patrick Duff, opening an exhibition of designs for the theatre by Sam Williams in Wellington; yet he had seen a few come to New Zealand, he said, and perform to houses only partially filled. Similarly, he said, New Zealand’s first-rate talent had frequently gravitated to other lands with greater markets for their talents. Here though was a remarkable exhibition by a gifted New Zealander who, unlike so many others, had brought his talent back to New Zealahd. The theatre needed the services of many artists, not least the designer, who could set a play in its mounting of. scene, light and costume. New Zealand had wisely sent one of her cleverest young artists to England to master these arts. Sam Williams had mastered these arts and, fortunately, for this country, had come back. It would be interesting to see what scope for his talent New Zealahd would give him. ,