... ADVICE FROM ELVY SIR, Reading, with quite some fascination, the Equity infighting through courtesy of your columns, I find myself reluctantly drawn into the debate if only to brinR some facts (no less) to the attention of Equity's membership. nuuui iwu years ago t,iuuuwmK almost three days and nights of virtually non-stop writing, and redrafts) I sent the Council the completed document ...

... WHAT A BRANCH CAN DO SIR--As a contributor to the letter columns of THE STAGE on three or four occasions. I feel as perturbed as Ian Barritt was on your impartiality as to how Equity should be run. I agree with him that the EMAG article should either have been in the letter column or as a paid ment. One of my letters to your column in the past had many mis prints. This, you kindly reprinted ...

... LION COMIQUES SIR,--A century ago the music hall stages of Britain were dominated by the Lion Comiques--George Leybourne, the original Champagne Charlie, the Great Vance, Arthur Lloyd and G. H. Macdermott were the big four. Chappells have invited me to write a book Lion Comique on the men and their songs. As I want to tell the full story, I would be grateful for any unpublished data or ...

... EQUITY LISTS SIR. The success of the Act for Equity campaign raises interesting questions. Of course we have had lists in Equity elections for many years; probably the most successful pre-war being what was known as The Green Room List. But it was a very gentlemanly affair and made no pretence of taking over the union. The Voluntary Chorus Committee led by Jack Hawkins, Constance ...

... MOUNTVIEW IN U.S. SIR,-- Thank you for mentioning the forthcoming Mountview Theatre School's American tour recently in your Students section. I wonder if you could just add this small foot note for the benefit of those inter ested. The tour of nine productions, which will take place from August to October this year, will be played at universities, community theatre and summer stock theatres. ...

... Dear Sir, Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to reply to Cyril Ben nett's letter this week. I am sure that Mr. Bennett did consult both John Freeman and Brian Tesler before the decision to remove me from the programme was taken but the fact remains that he did not consult me. At no time prior 'to my dismissal was I given every opportunity to defend my work and that and only that is ...

... THE BEAFORD DISPUTE SIR,-- Nobody enjoys John Lane's waggishness more than he and I do, and he scores some nice personal points off me which will please him. Without wishing to spoil his fun in any way. I'm not sure the case of the Orchard Theatre is altogether an appropriate one for such a flip approach. And for one who has the disingenuousness to describe the main purport of his address ...

... PANDERING TO APARTHEID SIR,-- In answer to Alan Hagan (June 24, 1976), who suggests we diould be more afraid of Russia than South Africa, has he never heard of the Domino Theory. Communism now dominates the Far East, and is knocking at the door of India. The Russians and the Chinese are involved in the Middle East. For the last few years they have been making their presence felt in the ...

... SIR,-- As I am one of the nine Councillors who resigned and walked off the stage at the Equity S.G.M. on November 7 I feel I owe an explanation to those members who were not present at that meeting and who voted for me fn the last election in the hopes that I would represent their interests and work on their behalf. I regard the Rule Book as sacro- sant. Everything else within the Union is ...

... SIR. Your correspondent Dar- lene Johnson asks how the Council of Equity can claim to be represen tative of membership opinion when the Council manifestly did not vote with the majority of members pre sent at the last Equity meeting. The people who vote for the Council are not necessarily the same people who avidly attend special or annual general meetings. When a councillor is seen to vote, ...

... Bates 'dismissal' Dear Sir, May I please correct the record on the manner of Mr Richard Bates' dismissal as producer of Love For Lydia as reported in Television Today (issue dated June 17). 1. Mr Julian Bond was contracted to write 13 scripts from Mr H. E. Bates' novel on October 4, 1973, after previously having written a detailed treatment. Mr Richard Bates worked with Mr Bond on the ...

... THE IRISH QUESTION SIR-- Wilson John Haire's inflammatory letter in THE STAGE in which he uses a review of O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars to air his ow! narrow outlook of the dynamic political situation in Ireland leaves a lot to be desired of a playwright from that country who should have a more informed history of Irish politics. As an actor who has performed in one of his plays on ...