BAN ON SINGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 13

BAN ON SINGER.

MARRIED DIVORCED MAN.

HUSBAND MAKES PROTEST.

LONDON. Sept. 11

"I consider it a disgraceful business and a petty form of tyranny to penalise Florence because I was divorced," said Mr. John Amadio, husband of Florence Austral, the Australian singer. He was referring to the action of the Worcester Cathedral authorities in barring 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 beforo I knew Florence. My first wife has since remarried. All this happened years ago. "In the meantimo Florence has sung at Norwich and Leeds at religious festivals. , It is a pity the Worcester people 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 havo not informed her. She is very sensitive, and it would upset her too much. Coming Tour ol Australia.

" I handle all her business, and simply told her the reason that she could not appear in Elijah's 'Messiah' at Worcester was because she must prepare for her tour of Canada and tho United Statos, on which she is to sail on September 28.

" Sho 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. Sho was then unknown, but sho is returning with a world-wide name. Sho is bubbling with excitemont at the anticipation of her return to Australia. It will ho tho thrill of her-lifetime whon she sings again to her ain folk, said Mr. Amadio.

" The action of tho Worcester authorities is a terrible indictment against tho Church," said Mr. Amadio to a representative of the Evening News. " They have adopted an attitude reminiscent of tho tyranny of medieval times. Who can now say that the Church has progressed in understanding people? I wonder if the Church thinks it helps the world by this aloofness? Church Criticism Resented. " How dare the Church criticise us? Suppose wo had been not sufficiently bravo or moral tp take tho matter into the Courts, and had lived like so many others, instead of legalising affairs? What is the Church's answer to that question? Its treatment of my wife makes it difficult to beli«ve that there is any comfort in religion," added Mr. Ainadio. „ " She has done much for the Church in singing at charity concerts, and had agreed to greatly reduce her fees for the Worcester festival. I had previously decided not to take legal proceedings against tho Worcestor authorities, owing to tho harmful publicity, but now I must reconsider tho 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 Mr. Amadio ! may Bay.".