CIRCUS MANAGEMENT

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2305, 1 March 1930, Page 3

CIRCUS MANAGEMENT

NO LIGHT TASK. SWEDISH JOURNALIST'S COMMENTS. There is an irresistible charm about T circus—about its sawdust and spangles and all that meets the eye of the numerous patrons of the big tent, such as came to Cambridge this week. To cull an extract or two from an article on circus life written by Mr Geo. L. Petersen, the well-known advance agent, of Wirth Bros., the world does not known half as much about the circus and its fold as it thinks it does. Back of the curtain and glamour and the whoop-la of the rings, there is another world—a world all to itself fdled with real humanity, by the very nature of its calling made a world apart. The majority of the performers are literally before the footlights from birth, and that foundation, followed up with long practice, makes them the attraction they never fail to be. > Then again the average patron has but a vague idea of all that is entailed in the administration of a large circus such as Messrs Wirth Bros.'

Travelling with the circus on the present tour of the Dominion is an interesting personality in the person of Mr B. W. Palmertz, a young Swedish journalist, who, infused with the desire for travel abroad, joined the circus in Australia. With the object of studying conditions in Australia and New Zealand and obtaining material for a book the young journalist accepted the position of publicity representative, with the circus.

In a chat with an Independent representative Mr Palmertz had some iritcresting comments to make regarding the administration side of the entertainment. "Yes," he said, "some people seem to have the idea that Messrs Wirth Bros, literally pick up fortunes in a night, but that is far from the actual position. It is sometimes said that we take a lot of money out of the town and leave nothing behind, but that statement also is far from the mark. Every time we play a town such as Cambridge we expend from £l5O to £2OO in maintenance alone, apart from salaries and wages. In round figures the total cost of running the circus is round about £3OO a day, so you will see we have to do big business before Messrs Wirth Bros, get anything out to compensate them for all their thought, enterprise and energy." Continuing, Mr Palmertz said the company had a staff of 120, of which 85 were workmen. Three meals each day were cooked in the company's own kitchen on the special train, there being three cooks and two assistants. The artists supplied their own meals, but slfcpt on the train. The special train had been chartered from the commencement of the Dominion tour at the Bluff, and it cost Messrs Wirth Bros. £2 per mile. They had already on this tour paid over £SOOO to the Railway Department. The special that, came into Cambridge had 15 passenger cars and 36 tracks. "You will see from thesefacts," said Mr Palmertz, "that the company lives quite well, because the sleeping cars are quite comfortably fitted up, and then again you will appreciate that we do not take everything and leave nothing." Before leaving the matter of transport the speaker referred to the great value of the elephants in loading and unloading. With a circus the size that visited Cambridge it would be impossible to travel without sxich assistance for other means would be too expensive. Peeding the 'Animals. "It is often said that circus animals are starved, but it is not so with those carried by Wirth Bros.'' said our informant, who went on to remark that one often heard it stated that the circus left nothing in the small towns. All the fodder for the animals was purchased as the circus progressed. One and a-half tons of hay and bran per day arc necessary for the elephants; ISOlbs of meat for tho lions, tigers, panthers, etc.; 150 to 200 loaves of bread for the polar and brown bears. On account of the difficulty of getting fish the Polar bears were fed on the bread soaked in fish oil and the brown bears on the bread soaked in molasses or milk. .Several dozen lettuce, eggs, etc., were required for the monkeys. "Of course their diet improves with peanuts according to the generosity of the public," smilingly, remarked Mr Palmertz. ■ Opinion of Dominion. j

"What are your impressions of New Zealand?" was the pressman's query, to which Mr Palmertz replied that he had been greatly surprised at the progress made in so short a time. He was surprised to find the roads throughout the country so good. "Your scenery is wonderful," he added, "but you do not tell the world about it sufficiently. Little is known about your New Zealand on the Continent. A great many still think it ia in the middle of Aus-

tralia, and a greater number do not know of it at all. It is, however, a great little country, and it is pleasing to me to meet some of my countrymen here and to have them well-spoken of as settlers. As I am a journalist I must say your New Zealand newspapers are very fine. They set a good standard, but I cannot understand how all the smaller country papers exist V In concluding the interview, Mr Palmertz replied that his trip with the circus people was a very pleasant one, and far more, educational than one would at first appreciate. Among the artists were represented several countries, and consequently association had enabled him to get a smattering of their languages. "I shall have much to tell my people and the newspapers of my own country when I get back," said Mr Palmertz, as he smilingly said good-bye.