Correspondence

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 45, 30 May 1945, Page 5

Correspondence

Sir, —In your issue of the 16th inst., you published a letter signed "Mummer." Like the writer of the letter I note with pleasure also the success of the Hutt Repertory's last effort and compliment them on their performances. However, the letter goes on further to reflect on the socalled lack of a hall or theatre where plays, etc, can be staged, me King George Theatre has been available to all and sundry for concerts, dramatic presentations, recitals, boxing matches, for years, and only last year a J. C. Williamson Company played a season of two nights v,. excellent results. Although the stage of the King George Theatre at the moment is not as up-to-date as it will be, still, the performances given there are generally satisfactcjpy from an audience point of view which can be judged as recently as the Com petition Festival Concerts. For some time past plans of a most modern theatre have been completed. These plans are for a theatre of a type that will compare with any in the Dominion and as soon as the necessary authorities can be arranged, building will start immediately. Just a word of warning. The last paragraph in "Mummer's" letter ad- ! dressed to Mr. Ratepayer, states that a certain Munipical Theatre has produced considerable revenue. 1 revenue sufficient to meet its liabilities? The writer can assure the ratepayers of Lower Hutt generally that practically without exception every Municipal owned theatre or town hall in the Dominion, is a drain 011 the community and within the writer's own knowledge many municipalities have gone to the Picture Interests to get them to hire halls for screening pictures on certain nights to, help them out, and in some instances have leased the halls, straight-out with certain reservations to the picture exhibitors.. ■ —I am etc., MAURICE RALPH, ' Manager King George Theatre, Lower Hutt.