REASON WHY NELSON THEATRE WAS REFUSED PACIFIST ORGANISATION

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 July 1949, Page 4

REASON WHY NELSON THEATRE WAS REFUSED PACIFIST ORGANISATION

NELSON, July 25, (P.A.)'.—ln reply to an allegation by the Peace and Anti-Conscription Federation in telegrams to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) that permission for the use of the Theatre Royal, Nelson, had oeen refused to Anti-Con-scription speakers, Mr. C. G. Kirk, president of the Nelson Repertory Club, which owns the theatre, made an explanation of the position. Mr. Kirk said that the club was preparing to present a show on August 8, and it was a standing rule that the theatre be refused to any applicants in two weeks prior to a club show, as it would interfere with rehearsals and other preparations. Applications for Mr. Holland's meeting and Mr. Fraser’s meeting next Saturday were made some time ago and the committee decided that those two bookings were all the club could allow without undue interference with its own work.

Several days ago an application was made for an anti-conscription meeting next Friray, and permission was refused on the grounds stated above. The next application was made by the Nelson Defence Committee for the use of the hall on Monday, August I, and for the same reasons it was refused. The Repertory club had much at stake In the presentation of a play and felt that it- had every right to use its own building for its own purposes.