THE COCKNEY IN N.Z. VOICES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 63, 18 September 1939, Page 6

THE COCKNEY IN N.Z. VOICES

New Zealand children speak with the accent of Kent } England, Dr. Frederick Sheffield, 'told the Wellington Optimists' Club. "It is n Cockney accent,'' lie said, "but perhaps not the Cockney that is genet - ally known on the music hall stage. There arc Cockneys and Cockneys. Still, it is a hybrid Cockney all the samq. In, the course of niv examinations here. I have asked students if thev would care to play iho F major or F minor scale lirst, sind have been slightly confused sometimes at the answer. The student might reply 'F tnijei" which f might mistake for V 7' miner.' Perhaps it may not be so brond as that but it is there. I have visits! every Dosnin ion except Australia, and have ?ui■jiidicatcd many times st the Welsh National end I can say that your children's voices are d<finitely as good as those of Ihe children in aiiplace I have v:si»ed, probably better. I am speaking of the nature of the voice in. 'J'; aggregate. I <Un inclined to .'hinkthat it is more musical in tone than the voices of children in. the other Dominions. At the same time, I think vour children remain childrc i longer than those in some of the other countries I have visited.*