A RUMORED THEATRE TRUST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 146, 25 June 1902, Page 4

A RUMORED THEATRE TRUST.

Recently a Melbourne paper published a statement to the effect that a combination had been formed by Messrs J. C. Williamson, Charles Frohman and George Edwardes with the intention of obtaining sole control of the Australian and Now Zealand theatres, and that negotiations were proceeding in this colony at the present time. On this the paper proceeded to address a homily upon the abomination of trusts, pointing out the evils of the system as it exists in America, where the great theatrical trust has made itself hated by tho public and feared by the profession. " In Australia and New Zealand," continued the articlp, ■' tho number of theatres is small, the number of dates required is lar^e, and a syndicate vrould have almost unlimited control in jjhe event of its gotting a footing. Managers of companies would have to lease the theatre from tho wyndioato, which would fix terms that would reduce the profits to the vanishing point, and enable the syndicate to grow rich, while providing the public with tho poorest fare." Enquiries made of Mr P. 11. Dix, who controls the theatres in tho four chief centres of tho colony, says a Wellington correspondent, show that at any rate, so far as ho is concerned, no attempt has been made to negotiate for any of his houses. The secretary of tho Opera House Company makes a similar denial; so another bubble has burst.