ON THE ROCKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12790, 15 June 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

ON THE ROCKS.

_ «. — '/• ■■■■■ TROUBLES OF AN ACTRESS. l "IGNORANT AND TRUSTFUL." CHR IST CHURCH, last night. Miss Marie. Baiues, or m private life Mrs Marie Mather, played the role of a bankrupt at the official assignee's office, when -'a -.meeting 'of "her- creditors was held. Mrs Mather A\*a-s represented by Mr Nicolls. Mi" Leatem appeared for Mr M. Lyons (of the United Service Hotel) AndA Mr ' f Cassidy for Messrs Leslie and Young, members of Miss Baine's company. ' ( Mrs Mather, m her statement, said she Avas an actress. She had arriA-ed m NeAv Zealand on January Ist, 1912, Avith a' comedy company. Her departure from England Avas delayed through the coal strike, and though ' through that she had lost the Christmas dates, she entered into partnership, with, Mr Brisbane Doyle as from January Ist, and he acted as business manager. It AvaS a term of the partnership; that accounts should be rendered monthly. These she had never had. She. had only received dribs 'and drabs for board. The ' 'West Coast season avos; riOt good, but the Auckland and Wellington seasons Avere excellent. She dissolved partner ship Avith Mr Doyle on -the, ground of failure to account. Ori May 25th the members of the coriipany Avho had not been paid sued her as a merriber of the partnership. She Avas unable to carry on the Christchurch season because the company very, naturally refused to play for the benefit of creditors,' and she Avas • obliged to give up the Christchurch dates. As lessee of the .Theatre Royal, her business riianager arid accountant took oyer the dates and . rearranged the company, including herself at a salary of £10 per AA'eek. Her reason for entering into this arrangement, was' her desire not to see the company stranded. The unsecured creditors AA-ere M. Lyons, hotelkeeper (Christchurch), £105 ; the .Criterion Hotel (Wanganui), £26.; Miss Goveding, £33 10s; Miss Perle, £50;. Miss Mather, £13; S. Leslie, £20; A. Young, £20; J. Henderson, £20; D. Aitken, £16; P. Devereaii, £38 10s; E. Vivian, £27; these being members of the company. The bankrupt's total liabilities amounted to £369 to unsecured creditors. She said her assets were nil. In ansAver to the assignee Mrs Mather said that Avhen she opened m Christchurch there Avere . two" executions against her. ; A / Her counsel explained that after this the company Avas really a t co-operative , coricerrii so that it could carry on. They were all to receive Avages. Mrs Mather: But I did not get the £10 stipulated m the agreement. The Assignee : Then the Christchurch season did not meet the arrangements I Mrs Mather: Not properly. One of the oldest members of the company said he had not been m that arrangement. He had been m Wellington; Mr Leathern: You Avere left m the lurch. He "asked Mrs Mather if she intended to. leave New Zealand iioav. Mrs Mather : Oh, no. /It: -would be a long s>vim. . ■ A. Counsel • She can't get aAyay. Mrs Mather said. she could start playing again if the public Avorild stand her. A member of the company : If the landlords will let us. Mrs Mather: Well, a landlord m Wanganui has my, dressingHiase. I had a lot of 'things Avhen I left Hoipe,' biit they Avent gradually. 7 ' To Mr Cassidy, bankrupt said that Mr, Doyle had not'shoAA'n her any stater ments m Wellington or m Auckland. Mr Doyle had handled the moneys. ' Mr- Cassidy ; Is that ript unusual for nn actress of your experience? Mrs ilather : I am an ignorant 1 'woman. I am. trustful ori the stage 1 arid off. If I had not. been; so trusting I Avould not be fit Jig here ' talking to ypu 'now. . , , . The Assignee '-"It is a distressing matter altogether. Nothing further can be done just now. The meeting was adjourned sine die. j MBa»— —— ■— — aw— ■ -'