THEATRES AND TAXES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1930, Page 9

THEATRES AND TAXES

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE SHOW CLOSING. Sydney, Jan. 16. A legitimate theatre’manager, who has a small fortune by playing popular comedies—some of them years old, such as "Charley's Aunt”---has decided to iflose his big musical comedy show in Melbourne. He blames not the talkies, of course, but the heavy taxation and .the operation of industrial awards. But 'the knowing ones insist that the are at, the bottom of it all. A decision to leave those shores was knade last week by Mr. Frank Neil, who gave notice to the host of players, and Others in his successful revue, “Clowns hi Clover." He said* that lie had been given the opportunity of leasing the King's Theatre, but he had refused it because he could see no prospect of being pble to continue in the theatrical business in Australia without suflering heavy loss. - "All persons connected with the theatre should realise that the position today is very different to what it was a few years ago,” Mr. Neil said. “I believe* that the legitimate stage, will be able to meet the competition with picture shows, but. not without some sacrifices that will have to be made by everyone connected with the stage. Arbitration awards have thrown upon theatrical- managements the whole burden of the losses that have followed the ‘•talkie” boom. The wages of theatrical employees are fixed in a manner which ahows a want of knowledge of the industry, and I for one cannot afford to pay them.” ' illustrating his contention that wages •were frequently fixed in an absurd way, Mr. Neil-said that the wages of ballet girls were regulated according to their age. Uirls of 21 years or more received more than girls who were under 2.1. A. ballet girl was at her best when she was lb. tuid in most cases was worth more when she was that age than when she was 21. He was willing io admit that he had made much money in Australia, but that was with the loyal assistance»f a small company, with which he produces farces costing but little to stage. Jn a letter to the Premier of Victoria, Mr, Hogan. Mr. Neil describes his musical comedies as having been a great sue-

cess. They would have been payable, he said,.but for the wages he had to pay, as forced upon him by the Arbitration Court. In’ “Clowns in Clover” he employed 13(i people, and his salary cheque amounted to considerably more than £lOO9. “Show girls who required practically no dancing or vocal ability, and who were not on the stage for more than half-an-hour daily, were paid £7 4s weekly. One flyman last week earned £lO 7s. The theatrical business had been exploited until it had reached the stage when it was impossible to operate.”

Mr, Neil will now try his hand in South Africa. In the meantime, J. C. Williamson are reconsidering their plans in Victoria, for the Government has promised to reconsider the taxation scheme as applied'tbmie'legitimate theal res.