A New Zealander in Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1026, 17 July 1930, Page 7

A New Zealander in Sydney Town

'J HE St'.vs Sydney Correspondent SYDNEY, July 11. First Class Political Sensation Whatever the outcome of the charges against the ex-Fecleral Treasurer Mr. Theodore, concerning the Mun’gana disclosures, it is extremely regrettable that the attack should have come at this particular juncture. It cannot be gainsaid that this is the oDDOrtunity that Mr. Theodore’s political enemies have been hungering for. For years there have been rumours—of course, unsubstantiated. Australia is passing through the greatest financial crisis of her existence. The fact that the man primarily concerned with her finances has been accused of corrupt practices during his former administration as a Minister of the Crown in Queensland cannot rebound to the credit of the Commonwealth abroad, particularly at a time when that great financial expert. Sir Otto Niemeyer, is ou his way out from Vngland to discuss the position with the Federal Government at Canberra.

t?i»"donation of Federal Treasurer

Mr. Theodore took the only course possible. He resigned his high office, explaining that his retirement was -only temporary until his name had been cleared." Meanwhile, ihe Prime Minister, Mr. Scullin, is to say the least, in a most embarrassing position. It is difficult to suggest what the outcome of this dramatic situation might be. It is full of possibilities, all detrimental to the best interests of Australia. It is by no means unlikely Iha't the Minister of Customs, Mr. Fenton, who has considerably enhanced his reputation following his recent tour abroad, will receive promotion in the re-shuffling of portfolios that must take place before the Prime Minister leaves for the Imperial Conference. It will now be impossible for Mr. Theodore, no longer a member of the Ministry, to act as Mr. Sc-ullin’s deputy. It is quite ■ probable that Mr. Fenton, who was in New Zealand a few weeks ago when returning from England, will occupy that position The Dapper Mr. Theodore

There is little to suggest in Mr. Theodore's appearance, or speech, that he once laboured in a mine for his bread and butter. Hatter does the ex-Treasurer give the impression ot' a successful man of affairs—as, in point of fact he is. Mr. Theodore is a wealthy man. A ready command of language, a commanding presence, and an impression of evident physical strength and vigour, mark him as a man distinctly out of the ordinary—as,

indeed, he is. 1 was in Air. Theodore's room at the Trades Hall on the night of the general election. As results poured in in the course of the evening indicating the Labour landslide, Mr. Theodore, though campaign director, was as much surprised as anyone else at the Bruce debacle. He never anticipated such a win. The wellgroomed, dapper Mr. Theodore, who did not shed his coat like his habour brethren in the room, seemed strangely out of place in. that assembly. I have another impression of him. in the Balmain Town Hall one night—-the heart of his district—disappointed speakers fumed and fretted at the alleged Inability of the Federal Government to assist their plight. The Labour Government, its leaders, its supporters, were denounced right and left. Suddenly, there was a pause. Mr. Theodore stood at the door. Slowly, accompanied by his wife, the Treasurer made his way through the industrialists. He mounted the platform, Not a muscle moved in liis face as he sat facing his critics, two well-shod feet, replete in silken hose, crossed. Well-shod feet in marked contrast to the hundreds of hobnails in that gathering. Bwiftly, lie verbally struck right and left, one moment persuasive, the next aggressive in the extreme. The critics were bowled over like so many pine pins. There was uothing left for them to say. They were even inclined to be humbly apologetic. That is how Mr. Theodore has shouldered his way through, a master of the psychology of the mob, dominating, even relentless. The Premiere of “Mr. Cinders"

A member of the chorus of “Mr. Cinders," the new production at Her Majesty’s, confided to me after the Premiere on Saturday night, that there was every justification for assuming that it would have a long run. I agreed with her. Chorus girls have an exceedingly hard time of it nowadays. While lesser stars can set up a hat shop, or even take up a frying Pan in a fish and chips establishment, there seems nothing that the poor chorus girl can do away from the Bta ® e : To begin with, she seldom has sufficient capital to go into business. However, those employed in “Mr. Cin tiers" are not likely to lack employment for some time to come —even in these days of talkies. “Mr. Cinders” ls Quite the best anti-talkie propaganda that J.C.W., Ltd., has been responsible for for some time. Elsie irince received a warm welcome on her return to Australia under this management. She scored an even more triumphal entrance later when |T e appeared at Romano’s, escorted vni m “ na S cl ’> accompanied by a e wnown young man about town, and followed by a waiter carrying so many flowers that the diminutive -sie was completely hidden when ey were placed upon her table.

-Ah Quiet on the Western Front’

, or "'hat. reason the New Zealand HI so . r c °uld possibly have banned this ma i lB beyond me. One can underbuns uss °Hni, who is anxious to » i U P a militaristic State, doing it. .‘JWtNew Zealand, which is not the blt bloodthirsty. As anti-war v ,Tasaada, this film is unequalled. ‘ ° n >y that, but it is a tremendous half h C aebievement. For two and ath» ~b urs I ®at entranced, following story ot those German lads iulfui°, ne by one ’ save up their unthnt ed ’ ea eer young lives. The is ~„° Brai>hy superb. The direction onvmcing. There is no acting—uni boys merely live. They live biaii ■ <lie - The ending of poor, tr2 sioaed Paul, back in the reach S a tter leave. Quietly he Which i out bis hand for a butterfly, tul F bas alighted nearby. A watchl e * renc h sniper. The German boy bullet a lttie too far. The ping of a v ttlg ' Then, one sees a hand conaes. ’ it closes and slowly opens but „ ' aeu hmply falls. That is all, Proses bau< i conveys a greater imfouis ° n than all the Kaiser’s legions /a Kwsibiy have done. Rather ev» rv • 'his film, I would compel Thm-l mtelligent person to view it. bievi* h'i o"*'' 0 "*'' be no more talk of the ‘table war of the future. it Is Dnn, ! Üburban family Ihe other day mystified to receive three theatre

tickets by post. Enclosed was a note, asking' “Guess who sent these? Deciding that a certain friend had sent them, the family resolved to make good use of the tickets. On their return from the city they discovered the house ransacked. \aluables were missing. Everything was in an upheaval. Finned on a window curtain was a note. It read: Guess who lias been here?” ERIC KAMSDEN.