BAN ON SINGER

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1929, Page 5

BAN ON SINGER

AIARRIED DIVORCED MAN

LONDON, September 11

‘‘l consider it a disgraceful business and a petty form of tyranny to penalise Florence because I was divorced,” said Air John Amadio, husband of Florence Austral, the Australian singer. He was referring to the action of the Worcester Cathedral authorities in debarring his wife from taking part in the “'Three Choirs Festival,” because her husband was divorced.

“ Like many other people in the world I made a mistake in my first marriage,” said Mr Amadio, “ but I was legally separated before I lmew Florence. My fire wife has since remarried.- All this happened years ago. “ In the meantime Florence has sung at Norwich and. Leeds at religious, festivals., It is a pity the Worcester peonle are less charitable than those of other cathedral cities. Florence is not aware, even to-day, of the reason of the Worcester ban, because I have not informed her. She is very sensitive, and it would upset her too much. COMING TOTJR OF AUSTRALIA.

“ I handle all her business, and simply told her the reason that she could not appear in the ‘ Messiah ’ at Worcester was because she must prepare for her tour of Canada and the United States, on which she is to sail on September 28. “ She will return to Britain in January for a tour of England. We are going to Australia in March for a tour of 38 concerts, opening in Sydney early in May. “ Florence Austral left Australia in 1918. She was then unknown, but she is returning with a world-wide name. She is bubbling with excitement at the anticipation of her return to Australia. It will be ' the thrill- of her lifetime when she sings again to her ain folk,” said Mr Amadio. “ The action of the Worcester authorities is a terrible indictment against the church,” said Air Amadio to a representative of the Evening News. “They have- adopted 'an attitude reminiscent of the tyranny of mediaeval times. Who can now say that the church has progressed in understanding people? 1 wonder if the church thinks it helps the world by this aloofness ?

CHURCH CRITICISM RESENTED. “How dare the church criticise us? Suppose we had been not sufficiently •wave or moral to take thp matter into Ihe courts, and had lived like so many ethers, instead of legalising affairs? What is the church’s answer to that question ? Its treatment of my wife makes it difficult to believe that there is nnv comfort in religion,” added Air Amadio.

“ She has dene much for the' church in singing at charity concerts, and had agreed greatly to reduce her fees for the Worcester festival. I had previously decided not to take legal proceedings, owing to the harmful publicity, but now I must reconsider the matter.”

“ I have nothing to say on the matter,” said Dr Moore Ede, Dean of. Worcester, to a reporter. “I am not interested in anything that Air Amadio may say.”