PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 209, 4 September 1934, Page 10

PLAZA THEATRE

“JACK AHOY’’ Jack Hulbert makes merry in his latest Eox-released Gaumont-Britisu * picture, “Jack Ahoy,” which is .screening finally at the Plaza Ineatre to-day. Failing in his exam, to become a “middy,” Jack Ponsonby joins the Navy, eventually rating as A.B. His a ship, H.M.B. Stupendous, commanded a- by Admiral Eraser, is ordered to the is Far East to combat the pirate menace, n Patricia, the admiral’s daughter, are- rives to bid farewell to her father, ;s whom she is to join at the Eastern station. Jack blunders badly when he e alludes to her father as an “old gey- >’ ser,” and Patricia witheringly veils o him off. Jack doesn’t care —lie's in d love. He is put in the cells when he 8, masquerades as the ship’s barber and i- attempts to shave the admiral, who »r thinks him insane. On arrival in the i- East, the admiral hears that the c- pirates have captured a submarine and d are attacking shipping. A certain Mr. o Larios, acting as intermediary, is in s reality a spy for the pirates. Jack, ■t clad in evening rig, goes to the Consulate Ball, where he is introduced to i- the admiral, who thinks he has seen ’« him before somewhere and welcomes r . him as tJhe son of an old naval friend, d Then the real action begins. “Romantic New Zealand” i rn , , 1 here can now be no excuse for New h Zealanders to plead ignorance of their own country, cor second-hand knowledge of it in a form at once most enc tertaining and informative is available Q to everyone. In order to allow all New Zealanders the opportunity of

learning something of the romantic history of the country and of seeing the I beauty spots and tourist resorts for n which it is so famous, Filincraft, Ltd., a New Zealand company, with the co- ' operation of the Government Tourist and Publicity Department, ha»s produced a wonderful film, enritle‘l “Romantic New Zealand,” which presents I on the screen a never-to-be-forgotten c succession of glimpses of native life, t scenic gems, bird life and historical scenes. It will commence at the Plaza t Theatre to-morrow. Jt is a film that j no. true New Zealander can see with out being deply conscious of the mar- ’ vela of this wonderful country in which we live. The picture opens with the arrival of the first Maoris in their , historic canoes- The natives and their • customs are the subject of a fair pro- . portion of the picture. Commencing with the thermal region of the North Island, the outstanding tourist attractions of all parts of the country are covered from many angles. In the hot lakes district and around Rotorua the cameraman has let few matters of interest escape him. The winter sports nt Mount Cook and Tongariro National Park are depicted in such a way that they leave one with a sense of loss if one has not taken part. The might of

lhe grea t glaciers of the Southern Alps is graphically shown. The four main centres of population iVe photographed from above and all around. The agricultural pursuits of Canterbury. and the pastoral industry of Taranaki are scenes which will be remembered; and the great flocks of sheep seen in many parts of the country represent the Dominion’s greatest source of wealth. Photographs of a great dredge on the West Coast of the South Island and of gold rushes of the early days in Otago make it plain that the yellow metal has not yet lost its power to lure man in search of riches. The conclusion is reached to the accompaniment of the plaintiff song of farewell of the Maoris

sung bv a native choir. Many of the scenes are filmed by the Tru-colour process and are of great beauty. Also screening is “The Red Ensign,” a stirring and unusual story of a shipbuilder’s efforts to revive British merchant trade and defeat foreign competition. Leslie Banks and Carol Goodner have Savage Club domiciled in still more pretentious premises in Adelphi I'eirace, where it was destined to reign for many years, and, I hope, where it will still continue to reign for many years to come. It would take too much time to announce the names of all the members added to the previous lists I have given you, but I would like to spend a moment with the life member*

I Ol' the club that hare been electee ■ since its inception, viz., the Prince ot 1 Wales (later King Edward \ 11.), tin Duke of Connaught, Earl Roberts, v is count Kitchener, Lord Alverstone, Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. Air. Whitelaw Reid : Captain Scott, Mark Twain, Lioue Brough W. H. Denny, W- B- leget- , meier, E. J. Goodman, Sir AVyatt 1 cott Sir Henry Irving, Lord .Charle> Beresford, Lord" Burnham, E. .1. Wadv. I A. Bruce-Joy, the Earl ot Crawtoril. Sir Rufus Isaacs, Sir James Linton and Major P. MacMahon"Does it not now cause you wonderment that Savagery and Orphandom , have not extended further than they . actually have throughout the world I Does it not make you feel a little pride in your Dominion to know that you have gone further with Savagery and Orphandom than any other section oi the Empire in proportion to your population? Does it not give you fresh hope and desire to do your utmost to further a cause that has such excellent British ideals, a cause that attained such notable support from such a huaible birth, and a cause that, if just extended widely enough, must make its good influence felt, and thereby play an appreciable part is balancing the scales of Empire security, as well as maintaining international good-fellow-ship and goodwill? ‘* I would now’ like to ask you to ponder for a while, and think of a logical answer to the following questions: Why is it that British Savagery and Orphandom have failed, to the extent they undoubtedly have, to erect a world-wide edifice worthy of the foundations that I have outlined to you m brief? Why is it that the part that Savagery and Orphandom should have played in the world has been taken by Rotary, an organisation of American origin and development? Not Viewed Seriously Enough

u ln my opinion, it is, to a certain extent, due to the fact that we do not view our Savagery and Orphandom seriously enough, that we do not adhere close enough to the atmosphere created by the pioneers of our club and which commanded such a renowned following for 30 or 40 years, and that we do not pay enough attention to the spirit, that underlies our written objects and ideals. Be these facts a-’ they may, the point that, in my mind, is of greater importance is that we do not confeh often enough or widely enough. What is required is an annual conference in this Dominion, and closer eo-operation with our sister

colonies and the Mother Country, to provide an inter-change of views and an extension of vision. If it were not for our inter-change of visits. club with club, our New Zealand Savagery and Orphandom would undoubtedly retrogress; or, put reversely, an increase of inter-change of visits, which carry with them new’ associations and views, will proportionately increase popularity. The same applies to colonies and countries. It is to these inter-changes and congresses, to which one and all are invited, that Rotary owes its, success, and, through them, that it has taken the part in the world’s social life, and indirectly in business life, that Savagery and Orphandom should have taken. “Therefore, let us all deliberate at this conference in such a manner that we can leave the conference feeling that we have done something tangible, and with the intention to do a great deal more to propagate the cause ot Savagery and orphandom, and thereby olav our part'for the welfare of our

pio-j' vui V JVI lOIV ..VIV.V.V, people, in healthy co-operation with our sister Dominions and Colonies, and the strengthening of the bonds of Imperialism that will help to secure our great Empire for all time. There is not the least doubt that a little organisation, along with plenty of deliberation, can lift Savagery and Orphandom much higher in the world than they are to-day, when they- will be able to serve mankind to much greater advantage and to the credit of those famous men who guided them through their earlier years of life. It remains for us, therefore, to do our “bit” in New Zealand, with the hope that our example will be emulated by other sections of the Empire. No unit in the world has better objects than ours; all that is wanted for success along the paths that I have suggested is honesty of purpose in the application of them, along with the will to put them into effect. “We should endeavour to extend ourselves further throughout the Dominion; we should educate our respective members in the wholesome and interesting history of Savagery and Orphandom; we should rearrange our respective club policies to encourage more of the atmosphere that prevailed in Savagery and Orphandom in their earlier days; we should introduce more educative and artistic matter into our programmes, and thereby lift the standard of our clubs; and we should get into touch with, and keep in close contact with .Savagery and Orphandom in other Dominions and in the Mother Country. Nothing is impossible where there is the will and determination to succeed. Therefore, I sincerely hope a start in the right direction will be made during this conference, with the hope that the day will not be far removed when there will be a Savage or Orphans’ Club in every town of any siz-e in the Empire.” Officers Elected.

Officers were elected as follow: President, Dr. G. J. Adams; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. N. Heath (Auckland Savage Club), H. F. Wood (Wellington Orphans’ Club), A. Wheeler (South Canterbury Savages); honorary secretary and treasurer, Colonel A. E. Loach; auditor, Mr. A. R. Sherris. It was decided to hold conferences biennially in the future, and that clubs be encouraged to revive their neighbours who had gone into recess. A remit was also carried encouraging clubs to introduce educative lecturettes into their programmes. An application from the Sydney • Savage Club for affiliation was granted.