MINISTER AND MUSICIANS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 606, 8 September 1909, Page 8

MINISTER AND MUSICIANS

PROPOSED SJATE CONSERVATORIUM. . THE TEACHING OF SINKING. , (By Telegraph-Press Association.) ' , , Auckland, September 7. A deputation from the Auckland Society of Musicians, consisting of the president (Mr. W. H. Wcbbe), vice-president -(Mr. J H. Fray) 1 , and a member of the council (Mrs? Arthur Boult), waited upon the Minister fpr Education;(tho Hon. G. Fowlds) this morning'hi regard-to certain matters evolving out of tho recent conference, of musicians held m Auckland. " -

.Mr. AVebbe explained.that it was the desire of tho conference-to make it'clear that tho establishment of a State, conservatorium would.bo premature, aud in suppbrt of this contention they couklv quote particulars of conservators of music in Australia. Th'cv also desired to urge upon tho. Minister.tho need for:\ supporting tne Musicians Bill as amended., : 'A third matter to,: which they ,jush e dVte v c ? ll the Mmisterfs attention was the!,quettini».or s ,n g in g [in public schools. It was telt.that/tho present/system of teaching singing, in public-schools wbb having an injurious effect on the children's voices, and to ] Prove.-a permanent- injury to that the chidren should, be placed under specia teachers, .they- further •submitted, that it'was- inadvisable to continue .trairiing- in ,vocal music as a compul- . sory. subject for. teachers, and strongly recommendeda special training; of suitable candidates m this subject. "-'.. . ,™L-f>^ sa i d , ; - th . 8 > 4 eiaide Provided tho .greatest objecMessori of '.what a conserva- , ;tonum cost, TenA-ears ago'a cohservatorium .had beon:established mthe South Australian capital at a cost of something liko £40,000 An endowment ..of;'£20,000- had-been pro-' vided by. an Adelaide citjzen, and the Government had spent; another £8000 on buildings and £1200 oc-an organ. It was an important question .for the-New Zealand Government, since it .appeared that the University Senate; desired the-Government, to stand : the cost 0 f establishing a conservaK m ™„ m i N < i rZealand.: -At: Adelaide, they ? V„ 63 . stndon ts., The revenue panned out at;i,o!.Cs. .per'head, and' the' cost to the .^nservatorium.'was' £9 ;.16s.' per. head, representing ia;,l,oss of £3 10s. per head. '■' . : ' .••;Mrs.vßonlt said that while it would be admitted that.a.conservatorium would'bo an incentive,: to, art; 'it. AW nevertheless felt th^t;. the; time.was.not;yet ripe for the.establishment of • a consorvatorium in NowZeaiand.. In Adelaide they had three,times as large a population as. Auckland, and the people: there also;had more leisure.: In this, Dominion-it was felt that want of leis'ure was a serious deterrent-to progress .in art, and in the case of young, pcoplo hero it. was,felt that there; was. so much homo work ; that the children were prevented 'from becoming artistic;' 1 . :..'■■ , ■ i asSA^V^ ' said tbe y conld rest assured that the .Government was not look'sf' ° r f ny I .,f resn channels for tho expenditure, of public,;money .at the ..present If e M- T- a3: "° d!ln g« r of' the Government establishmg-.a conscrviitorium.in.the imme&f^Ur^' a P d ' th , e 7 could res f that tho'subject would receive vory Mature consideration before any step was taken! rhe-Government. wouldV have to be quite satished; that the' .expenditure involved would be of,,a reasonable amount,, and that the return S] would. *e commensurate with such,expenditure In/regard to;.the Musi! cians Bill he cbuld se 8/ no personal objection 'witi 80 -;- aS th « infests, of; musicians outside, its scope would not be in any way proposition that those who had reached a certain, standard, shoufd ,have their status recogmsed -Mr., Sidoy; oneof themembers for Uunedm, would have charge of the Bill S^w ll ' s f ,? ess,on -,' K had '■ been.proposed that the; Government should take the Bill up, ,but,hb..,did. n ol t think 'that'.' could be done.during tho.coming session, and it would: tfelS .wit'and see if Mr. Sidey.coiild' not.get it through .this,vear. . With reference, tq the. third«pomi 'relatihg" , te ,! sihgine^inl public schools, .he could tell them tlat tho Department! of which' he was- head,' as well a f,. h " ns ? l . f > *« re strongly i 6f' opinion'that 8 » -teaching;, in; "'primary ' schools- should'-be' done by, the 'primary school-teachors themselves. , They wero besieged with requests for appointments, as teachers: of special subjects, ~but they: steadily;' set:,\ CeirVfaces '. against anything of,the. kind. There was a danger,that the organisation might be: af-' ' tected,-and. they, were now trying to eouin teachers in every possible way,in the trainmg coleges. with regard :to the . proposal that, .singing. should : bo H a. compulsory subject-forteachers, ho would-promise to,look:into.itho..suggestion. ".'■';■• '.■'■•• <