MAJESTIC THEATRE STAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 16 December 1947, Page 6

MAJESTIC THEATRE STAGE

Sir. —Permit me to correct an impression evidently formed in the mind of the writer of. a report on ■' the finals of the “Talent Quest.” fvThis was with reference to the suitability of the stage of the Majestic Theatre for dancers. Your writer made the. following statement: “Only one dancer reached the finals last night, but doubtless the unsuitable floor of the theatre had something to do with this.” The statement .is totally incorrect. floor of the stage, or as your reporter has it. “floor of the theatre”, had-noth, ing whatever to do with the results of the choosing, or of the ability of the contestants. It might interest you to know that there were some 16 entries for dancing, some solo, some duo and some teams of dancers and at no time was there any complaint about the suitability or otherwise of the stage. The fact that there was only one dancer in the finals was due chiefly to the action of the audience in voting for other than dancing items, and, in a lesser degree, to the present epidemic. Two juvenile contestants, both dancers, were withdrawn from the contest, due solely t® the possible element of risk 'owing to the infantile epidemic. Both of these would otherwise nave appeared in the finals. I would like to place on record niy impression of the stage of the Majestic Theatre. It is one of the best-condi-tioned stage floors that I have had the pleasure of working on in any theatre in New Zealand. The surface is smooth and in good order and the “rake” or angle is very slight; in' fact it is a very good stage. A. MANSON. “Talent Quest” Organiser. [The writer of the report adheres to the previously expressed opinion that the floor of the Majestic Theatre is not a floor on which a dancer could possibly do his or her best.—Ed., Herald.] DOGS IN THE STREETS Sir, —May I endorse the remarks of “Particular” regarding dogs in the streets? He states that he has never seen so many dogs as in Gladstone road. Your correspondent "ain’t seen miffin' yet.” . There are more mongrels to the square inch in Derby street than to the square mile in Gladstone road. It is but a matter of time when, in trying to avoid a crowd of dogs, some unlucky motorist or cyclist is going to have a serious accident. What is the use of the health authorities exhorting all and sundry to safeguard health while the powers that be tolerate packs of dogs polluting our streets and gardens. The, time is long overdue for the cleaning-up of these pests. _. “INTERESTED." Sir, —Dog lovers must agree with your correspondent, "Particular," that the main streets are not the place for dogs, but how to keep them off is a problem which requires co-operation on the part of dog-owners and authority. £ It is not training to beat a dog for something of which he is not aware, and he must be allowed out for a run, while no part of the town is far from the residences. . ... Therefore I think owners should give tacit consent to authority to drive dogs home, when in town or on the main roads without control. One good crack with a stick would serve; especially if an officer could step from a car it would teach them to keep off the road and away from cars. If the dog has no collar, then it should be taken to the pound and the owner made to pay a release. There is no other town that I know that can afford to have a man go round and collect registrations. If a dog is unregistered and, not carrying the current collar then the owner should be charged. Thus one officer’s service could easily keep the town area and the main dear