POOR PATRONAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 8

POOR PATRONAGE.

TOWN HALL ENTERTAINMENTS ORGAN RECITALS UNPOPULAR BROADCASTING A FACTOR. "Lovely, isn't it! Poor old ratepayers' money," said Mr. F. W. H. Brinsdcn, at a meeting of the Auckland City Council last night, in commenting on the poor public patronage for entertainments at the Town Hall in comparison to the cost.

A sub-committee of the Finance Committee recommended that, in regard to municipal music, the number of performances should be reduced to 40 organ recitals in the year, and 97 performances by the Municipal Band. The sub-com-mittee also recommended that the Radio Broadcasting Company should be allowed to broadcast all performances, except those given at the Zoo, for an annual payment of £750.

Mr. Brinsden read a list of receipts and expenditure of entertainments in the Town Hall, and pointed out that the cost was very much in excess of the receipts. He believed that the public of Auckland wanted the band, not the organ. The late Sir Henry Brett, who had presented the organ, stipulated it should be played a number of times for the public. The tuning of a church organ cost about £15 a year, but the tuning of the Town Hall organ cost £20S a year. The City Organist received £15 a week, and he had seen him playing to empty benches. '"If ever there was a scandal, here is one," declared Mr, Brinsden.

Mr. E. J. Phelan said that the late Sir Henry Brett's object was to give the people of Auckland an opportunity of enjoying good music. There had been a waste of money. He moved as ail amendment that the report of the sub-commit-tee as it related to the Municipal Band be approved, but that the recommendations relating to the organ and municipal choir be referred back, to (I) review the terms of • engagement of the City Organist; (2) to discuss the advisability or otherwise of appointing three honorary organists on a performance basis; and (3) with the object of calling tenders for tuning and repairs of the organ. The bandmaster (Mr. C. Smith), in a report, opposed any suggestion that the band or himself had failed to give value to the public.

The City Organist (Mr. Maughan Barnett) largely attributed the present serious position to broadcasting. Mr. G. Knight said that the late Sir Henry Brett was one of the greatest benefactors that Auckland had, and that the organ was one of the best in Australasia. It was a condition that an efficient organist should be engaged. Mr. Brinsden said that permission had been refused prominent visiting organists to use the organ.

Mr. Phelan's amendment was carried

The portion of the report relating to broadcasting was referred hack to" the Reserves Committee.