SIR HARRY LAUDER

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4952, 6 February 1937, Page 6

SIR HARRY LAUDER

BROADCAST FOR “SENTIMENT,” NEWSPAPER CRITICISM OF FEE. Sydney, January 21. Sir Harry Lauder, famous Scots comedian, paid for the cost of travelling to Australia to visit his brother, Mr. Jock Lauder, of Newcastle (N.S.W.), by signing a contract to broadcast for an hour. The Australian Broadcasting Commission, which operates the national, or A class, stations, is paying Lauder a fee, which, although not disclosed, is stated to be not less than £SOO sterling (£625 Australian). The fee is the largest for any single radio performance in Australia.

“Not for money—l’ve got enough—but just to let Scots and those of Scots descent in the outback of Australia hear again the voice of Scotland in my songs. That,” said Sir Harry Lauder, “is why I relented after positively refusing to make any public appearance. The outback of Australia is full of Scottish settlers, or those of Scottish descent. I know from the hundreds of letters I have had asking me to sing ‘Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ ’ and * I Love a Lassie.’ ”

Negotiations for Lauder to perform were conducted for two days before the comedian “relented.” The contract for the broadcast was made out on an aged typewriter carried by the A.B.C. representative across Stockton ferry from Newcastle to Jock Lauder’s house. The machine was set up on the kitchen table, at one end of which Mrs. Lauder was peeling potatoes. Greta Lauder, Sir Harry’s niece and secretary, to whem he pays £2OOO a year is doing her work with a pen. She has no typewriter with her. Meanwhile the size of the fee has been the subject of criticism. Typical of the criticism was the comment of the Daily Telegraph: “There is no doubt that in Sir Harry Lauder the A.B.C. would have one of the most popular artists it has engaged for a long time, but it would be very difficult to justify such an enormous fee for a comic song or two, no matter how famous and brilliant may be the comedian. Worse still is the hesitation of the A.B.C. in not coming into the light and letting the public know exactly how much of its money it has promised Sir Harry for his broadcast. There is altogether too much of this ‘public be damned’ attitude on the part of our Government and semigovernmental bodies.” The newspaper telegraphed to Sir Harry: “Reported you are being paid £SOO for broadcast. Is this correct? What is the exact amount? Reply urgent. Reply paid.” Sir Harry replied: “Near guess. Hope lucky next time. —Lauder.”