NEW PICTURE THEATRE.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 330, 14 July 1914, Page 5

NEW PICTURE THEATRE.

TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—In reply to Mr Lawson's letter in your issue of the 30th ultimo,, allow me to assure him that I do not despair, as the Te Awamutu Theatre Co., Ltd., will be an accomplished fact and duly incorporated on Monday next. If more were needed I now have even Mr Lawson's endorsement of my proposal as "offering a sound investment." It may interest him further to know that my buoyant optimism, which has the studied support of the leading residents of Te Awamutu, mentioned in my previous letter, has again been a potent factor in the flotation of the Broadway Theatre Co., Ltd., at Newmarket, Auckland, with a capital of £ifsoo, the Mayor of Newmarket being chairman of directors. I regret that vour correspondent's pettiness has prompted him to personalities, and to his very weak subterfuge in questioning the amount of my hire. I am a Company Promoter, and if my time and ability were not employed in the formation of the Te Awamutu Theatre Co., Ltd., they would find remunerative employment elsewhere. Mr Lawson and his fellows had ample scope and opportunity at the first meeting, of calling into question the fees and costs of the formation of the Company, all of which are usual and reasonable. Apart however from these considerations, I wonder, if a prospective purchaser of a farm were to question Mr Lawson's interest in puffing and in pushing the sale, whether Mr Lawson would forego his usual commission or even a part thereof. Mr Lawson states that " the public know him "—I leave the decision to them. In equal justice also I might ask Mr Lawson whether he is prepared to emulate the generosity of his fellow resident by offering to the Company, free of cost, his own site in Alexandra Street, which is now under firm offer to the Company at £572. The gift offer, valued at £640, is approximately 50 yards from the post office—Mr Lawson's site, on the vacant land adjoining Mr A. J. Bray's office, is three times that distance. In reply to the concluding portion of your correspondent'! i letter I may state that there is at present no Fuller-Hay ward con bination, the two companies having been dissociated early in June. There are at present in Auckland at least four distinct film-supply companies, with picturesV by the leading firms. I alread\ have offers for the supply of three different companies, ancf unless either Fullers, Ltd., or Haywards, Ltd., establish a rival picture theatre or buy out the Te

Awamutu Theatre Co., Ltd.— both remote contingencies—l do not know how they can affect the position. The same cry has. been raised in the case of every picture theatre in Auckland, but they all subsist, and the most prosperous are those which have worked absolutely independent of any combine. In conclusion allow me to thank Mr Lawson for giving me the opportunity of vindicating, through the Press, the sound common sense of Te Awamutu's leading residents, whose business acumen and intelligence have eyidently not been warped by carping criticism. If my "insinuations re site " are inapplicable to Mr Lawson, I must express my sympathy for him, in that he has evidently been made the innocent tool of his fellows, who raised such a storm about the site at the first of those interested in the formation of the Company.—l am, etc., James Christie. [This letter had been intended for publication in last Friday's issue, but owing to its late arrival at this office, it was found necessary to hold it over. Consequently in the first paragraph referring to the incorporation of the Company, "Monday next" must read as meaning Monday of this week.—ED. W.P.]