Made Town Clerk Look Ridiculous!

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 June 1933, Page 8

Made Town Clerk Look Ridiculous!

COMEDY COMPANY DIRECTOR ASKED TO APOLOGISE “SMUG HYPOCRISY” IS HIS RETORT WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Wellington City Council intends demanding an apology from Mr. Frank Neil, director of a comedy company playing here, for remarks made on Sunday night at a concert allegedly having the effect of making the town clerk, Mr. E. P. Norman, ridiculous. The company had agreed to give the concert in aid of the “Smith Family” distress fund and the Council requires that all programmes be submitted to the town clerk for approval or otherwise. Some confusion occurred regarding an appointment to discuss some of the details in connection with a dialogue but the concert proceeded according to plans, Mr. Neil making humorous references ;to the city’s censor. The Mayor reported the matter to the Council to-day when Councillors remarked that it was unfair that the clerk should be submitted to trouble and affronts in reviewing programmes. Eventually it was decided to demand an apology. Mr. Neil says the company was giving its only free night to aid> the distressed and the clerk had made an absurd request asking that the full words be given by George Wallace and Syd. Beck. They were comedians and not monologue artists and he had confidence that they would not say anything inappropriate. “The performance gave pleasure,” he said, “and raised much-needed money, for a deserving cause. This is 1933 and smug, hypocrisy should take a back seat to the needs of the moment.”