HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 3

HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY.

The box plans open to-day at the Bristol for the forthcoming visit of the English Humphrey Bishop Comedy and Operatic Company at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday, April 5, for seven nights. The Auckland pros? MSS'; ,‘Tt is ..the brightest, breeziest,* and -fineafe'* show o i its kind that has ever visited New Zealand. Comedy is the keynote, and with such comedians aa George Ross, Robert Roberts, Harry Avondale, and Edward Elliott to lead them there is not a dull moment all through the show. Although comedy and laughter predominate, on the vocal side tho company is specially strong, and to hear one of their operatic finales accompanied by tho Humphrey Bishop orchestra,, it would seem impossible to believe that there, was not a full real grand opera chorus bbhjnd' them. This extraordinary production- of voices has been a source of wonderment from the start of their season.” The original ragtime quartet compose*! of Harry Avondale, Robert Roberts, Walter Kingsley, and Maurice Jaffey, appeals to everyone, both from a comedy point of view as well as a vocal, and their reception everywhere can only be described os a “riot.” The Humphrey Bishop Company has been brought over from Australia exactly aa presented in Sydney and Melbourne by J. C. Williamson : and J. and Tait. In each of its programmes there is something of everything to please everybody, and cadi artist is a well-known London performer. The Auckland Herald says: ‘The verdict of lost night’s audience upon the excellence of the Humphrey Bishop Company has insured the success of their whole season—in fact, Mr Bishop had the greatest difficulty in proceeding with his programme by the enthusiastic insistence of the audience in asking for more. The secret of this success was not only the cleverness of every turn (each member of tho company has talent), but to the ‘ginger’ which everyone instilled into his work. , . . Tho Humphrey Bishop Company created a furore. Another innovation that is to be found with the Humphrey Bishop Company is that they are touring the dominion at popular prices, although the show is being toured in its entirety. ’ The day sales are at the Geyser confectionery shop. TRADE UNION OR ARBITRATION UNIONS? TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—A fact of which most unionists, especially those employed in manual work, are not fully aware is that all unions under the Arbitration Act are dealt with by "both the Conciliation Council and the Arbitration Court, whereas the trade union which is not under the Arbitration Act is simply a lawbreaking society. As a preventative of strikes all employers should have no hesitation in seeing that all their employees become unionists under the Arbitration Act. I notice that the form of application for employment by the Dunedin Oity Corporation requires the, applicant to state whether he is a member of a union, and to get a certificate from the union that he is a financial member. Before a man can be engaged for such work as pick andf shovel questions to the number of 27 must be answered by him t 6 the city engineer in writing. Why, therefore, does not the General Labourers’ Union, which is under the Arbitration Act, see that all labourers come under the Act, and compel all slackers who arc over 13 weeks in arrears with their dues to become financial to the union, making them toe the mark. Why make flesh of one and fowl of the other?—l am, etc., Watch ’Em. Dunedin, March 31.