THE PRESIDENT AND THE MOVIE STARS.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 October 1933, Page 4

THE PRESIDENT AND THE MOVIE STARS.

Every now and again it has been the delight of t-he space writer to point out that some classes of public entertainers, notably the movie stars, enjoy a 1 rate of remuneration for their services which make the salaries of Prime Ministers, and* other personages who control .the destinies of nations, appear like mere doles in comparison. The j writer invariably draws one of two morals from a recital of the figures involved; he seeks to prove either that mankind’s sense of values is awry, or, alternatively, that politicians are not such valuable servitors of humanity as screen actors*. Hitherto the statesman has had to grin and bear the latter imputation, but President 'Roosevelt, in his new role as dictator of the United -States, has struck a blow on behalf of the world’s legislators. He professes to see in the screen star’s exorbitant salary an obstruction to the development of his recovery plan, though just how excessive payments* for service rendered in this sphere constitutes "unfair and destructive competition” it is ;t ■little difficult for the layman to perceive. The desire to restrict the trading profits of public utilities, o*r private 1 companies manufacturing everyday necessities, can be comprehended as essential t*o the principle of the "plan,” but the fact that a Greta Garbo* may be

paid! ten times-what she is worth seems to be nobody’s business other than the film company concerned. In this case the assessment of value of services rendered is surely a matter for those who pay. The President of the United States may be ungallant enough to consider that the flashing smile of a pretty blonde is over-valued at ,so many hundred thousand dollars a year, but the fact remains that the world’s .masses cheerfully continue to make it possible for film producers to pay their stars a,t the high rate set by Hollywood. It may be that the President is determined to bring about a readjustment in mankind’s sense of values, or it may be that he simply does not like blondes. Whatever the reason, it is certain that a whole lot of people who do not get film star’s salaries are going to get a great deal of satisfaction' out of this process off candid revaluation.