GREAT ACTOR'S FAREWELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20156, 17 January 1929, Page 13

GREAT ACTOR'S FAREWELL.

DISGUST WITH AUSTRALIA. "I SHALL NOT COME AGAIN.** Mr. Dion Boucicault is disgusted witK Australia and has made up his mind never to return to it. Strikes and petty interferences with transport services have, in his opinion, rendered the life of a touring theatrical producer intolerable. In future he proposes to remain in England. Speaking yesterday of his plans, the veteran actor-manager said that on completion of a forthcoming South African tour he intended to abandon acting and confine his attentions to producing play 3 for his wife, Miss Irene Vanbrugh, and other English artists. "Australia and New Zealand have both been my favourite overseas countries," he'remarked, "but after my recent experience in the Commonwealth it is useless to expect me to return. In Melbourne the railways and shipping services were held up and wa could not move out of the place. To get from one city to another with my baggage, which runs into I don't know how many tons, entails a long succession of annoyances and expensive delays. It is simply not worth while to travel 24,000 miles to Australia and back to be worried with continual strikes and bomb outrages; there were six strikes during the six months I was in the country. It is trade unionism gone mad." Theatrical taxation in Australia was also very onerous, Mr. Boucicault said. His proceeds were subject to deductions for two State taxes, as well as the Federal tax, the whole amounting to 27 per cent, of the gross takings. The Williamson firm, which, in his opinion, was displaying most creditable enterprise, had. brought out last year an v exceptionally; fine opera company, headed by one of the world's best opera singers, Toti dal Monte, but from the financial point of. view the tour was a complete not because the people did not support it,- but simply through the unexpected cost of transport and the high rate of The losses could not have been less than £30,000 or £40,000. New, Zealand was quite a different proposition. He had never failed to show a substantial profifl in this.country.