ORCHESTRA LEADER

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1946, Page 7

ORCHESTRA LEADER

-Press Association

QUESTIONS ASKED IN PARLIAMENT

By Telegraph—

WELLIXGTOX, July lh. In the llouse yesterday, the Prime .Minister (Mr. Praser), answering a question by Alr. li. M. Algie, said 4tliat ihe ap])ointment of Mr. Andersen Tyrer as organiser of the proposed national sj'inpiiony orcliestra was made because Ue was eniinently qualilied for the lask. Oue of the world 's highest authorities on orcliestral work, Sir Thoinas Heeehain, on being consulted, | gave it as his opini'on that Mr. Andersen Tyrer was just the uian for the job. Ln view of the desirability for nrganising the orcliestra as rapidly as possible, it was felt that the time recpiired to advertise and deai witli the applications would eause au unjustilied deiay. Alr. Tyrer 's experiencc 111 organl.sing the X'ew Zealand Centennial Or- | ehestra added materialy to hi"s other liigh qualilieations. | Mr. Fraser, expanding his reply eoneerning the appointment of the organiser of the Xational Svmphony Orehestra, said that Alr. Tyrer had not lieen appointed conduetor, and in due time that position would be advertised. Mr. Tyrer 's organising work would last anothev eigliteen months or two years. The world would be searched for a permanent eonductor of the Xatiorial Orcliestra, but hjj hoped the appointment would not be regardecl' as e.x-N elusive by the suecessful applieant, because el'forts would be made to have guost eonduetors of sueh renown as Toseanini and Dr. klalcolm Sargent. He hoped the Xational .Orcliestra would be the basis of a conservatorium of music. IMr. Fraser, answering a question as to "wlio cliose Mr. rPvrer, said he was | oue of tliem, the Direetor of Hroadeast- ! ing had holped. and Oabinet had the : fitial say. "We take full responsibilitv. We have no apologies to make," said 1 Alr. Fraser. The Musicians' Fnion had assured him it was ent.irely in favour of what had been done. | Mr. Algie said the Government 's action in the matter was a spletulid ■ example of the infraction of the : ])rineiples of demoeraey. Mr. Tyrer had lieen appointed by hole-in-corner imethods to the position of organiser. i tio personully eould not complain about !Mr. Tyrer 's qualilieations but the ques tion was whether the apiiointmenl was made in the proi>er manner. If Alr. Tyrer 's ajipointment meant lid would! uitimately be made eonductor, then !u I had been given an undeuiocratic a'l- f vanlage. ! Hon. F. Jones said Alr. Tyrer was tlie i best qualilied of the jiersous avaiiabie 1 in Xew Zealand to undertake thi1 task. ' The Opjiosition was trying to scoro on j the ground that the position was not \ advertised but the cirrunistances justi- i lied the methods employed. Alr. ,i. T. Watts said 15 to 1«; months ago a person eame into his place j of business and said he had applied for a position in the orcliestra and had been interviewed by Alr. Tyrer. Alr. : Watts said he noted this in his diary at the time. It seemod to him (AVatts) thac.dhis. was auotlier exaniple of thc-J Government 's manner of poiiey, to make a temporary appoin t meiit aiul let | it niu for a year or two, and then con- | lirm the ap]H)intment. The Opimsition j did not objeet to Alr. Tyrer but dnl ! 'objeet to the Government 's method of j aj)})ointment. ilon. W. E. Parrv said it apjieared j tlmt to justify the Ojiposition 's argu | nient the position should liave been :id- ! vertised so tlmt a person of inferioi j abilitv eould get the appointment. He' asked, eould the llouse see Alr. Watts j diary. ALr. AVatts: Is the Alinistor ehalleng- i ing liiv word? 1 can produce the man | himself. ! Alr. Parrv said there was not u; vestige of truth in the staleinent by the j man wlio visited Alr. AVatts. Alr. Fraser said that Cabinet on ; I'ebruary 22, 194(i, eonsidered the ques ' timi of iippoi n t m e ii t and an indieation ; was given to Alr. Tyrer that he wouhl j probably be ap'pointed to the position | of eonductor. Subsequently }»rotest> were made and Alr. Tyrer said that he | would not liold the ALinister to his | ; word. Al r. Fraser tlian read to the House a eopy of a eablegram sent to Ihe lligh Coiiiniissioner in London on ' Alay 1, 1 1)4(1, wlio was asked to inquire' of Sir Thoinas Beeeham eoneerning j Alr. Tyrer. Sir Thoinas Beeeham 's j reply was that Alr. Tyrer was just the j : man for the job. Mr. W. A. Hodkin said that the ( Government 's eable to Sir Thoinas .Beeeham was -sent to justify its hole-in-corner methods. | llon. U. G. Sullivan siiid he luvd been assured by the Alinister for Broad- , easting that Alr. Tyrer's appointmem .was not a ])tililie service appointment in the ordinary meaniiig of the term but 1 an artist's eontraet with the Broadeasting Depart meiit. ! Alr. W. «T. Polson said it was extraor- ' dinarv that Cabinet should have con- ; . sidered the matter. ! ! Alr. Fraser said there had been im [ diseussion 011 the appointment betore. Februarv 22, H)4(i. As it was Alr. Tyrer . ; was preparing to return to Fnglaml i 1 wlien he was informed of the ap- j ; poiutnient. \ Alr. G. H. Alaekley said this was the j sort of tliing that got the Governnienr j into more disrepute than many of its ■oi her actions. Airs. G. 1-1. Ross said last January at Cambridge slie attended a school foi 1 musicians and thev were eoneerned at ruiiKiurs coiiceriiing Mr. Tyrer's ap- 1 point nient. She wrote to the Minister of broadeasting who replied that no ■ appointment had been made and that ; tlie orehestra was in the process of ' being formed.