COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 2

COMPETITIONS.

MUSIC, LITERATURE, ORATOR?. MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL, Dr. Arnold Izard presided nt a meeting ■ held in the committee-room of the Towu Hall last evening to discuss the advisability or otherwise of holding mnsic, literary, and elocutionary contests in Wei- , lington. Mr. J. M. Clark, one of the convenors, said that such competitions had been most succcssful in other centres in New Zealand, and in Ballarat.- They "would brighten up tin. city for at least a week, and were generally beneficial to all phases of art. The Rev. E. 0. Blamires said that when in Duncdin ho was delighted to *00 tho good these competitions had done, ana was similarly surprised on his arrival in Wellington to find that nothing of the sort was hold in the Empire City. Ho had himself had an idea of initiating something of the sort in Wellington. 110 had been waited on by a fairly strong deputation asking him to take the matter up. This was in train when he. mofc Mr. Clark, 110 was prepared to throw in his lot with tho bigger idea, and would do all in his power to help them alone. (Applause.) Mr. N. Baeyertz said of the first competitions held in Auckland a substantial credit balance was realised, at Dunedin they were successful financially and artistically, and at Christchnrch also. No professional musicians or ladies should be allowed to act on the committor (Lnughter.) That was most important. H. hoi ever they had had ladies on a cornm\ te ,t ! cre ' lar ' ' >20n trouble. fi,„ tii • le chairman read : ? lo,v , m S from the Wellington Society of Professional Musicians:— • Sir,—ln connection with, the proposed iorniation ol a musical competitions society in Wellington, we, tho representatives of the Society of Professional Musicians desire to make , known our attitude townrds the proposal. We assume that tho operations of the society would be similar to those of kindred bodies in other centres, and that the competitors would be chiefly amateur students. We are of opinion, that these competitions are of no artistic value to tini community and in some rcspects exercise a more or less injurious influence. We consider it important that amateur students of music should bs kept free from any temptations to .become other than amateurs in the true sense of the term, i.e., lovers of music for its own sake. Tile real artistic progress of tho community depends upon this. We contend that these competitions with their publicity and. money prizes (surely objectionable where these amateurs are concerned) undoubtedly provide such competitions. The interruption of the students' regular course of study, tho nervous strain induced by the 'public performance, and the falsi) value that is so often attached to success at these competitions are also points which have influenced the present action. —Ws remain, sir, yours faithfully, Robert Parker, President. .T. Maughan Barnett, Vice-president. Lawronce Watkins, Vicp-presidcnt. Horace G. Hunt, Hon. Secretary. The letter was jocularly received. Mr. J. M. Geddis said that, n little opposition. like that would do the competitions a lot of good. A cold douche wc-uld spur those interested into making every effort tu make a splendid success of the project, in hand. Mr. W. A. Flavell remarked that any opposition should only stimulate them to greater efforts. Ho would move:— "That it is resolved that a society bo formed in Wellington for the purpose of holding annual competitions in vocal and instrumental music, elocution, tho dramatic art, oratory, and debates, essay-writing, and other literary matters, dfcuving and painting, physical culture, etc. Such society shall bo called the New Zealand. Musical, Literary, and Oratorical , Competition Society." The motion was spoken to favourably by Messrs, C. Wilson, J. M. Geddis, Byron Brown, and others, and was carried unanimously amidst enthusiasm. Mr. Byron Brown, of Otaki, said ho would guarantee to secure 20 entrants from Otaki. The competitions would be very popular in tho country, and.it would be found that Wellington would be taxed to find accommodation for tho competitors. It was proposed and carried that the officers consist of a patron, presidents, four vice-presidents, a committee of twenty-five, secretary and treasurer. Tho following officers were elected:-. Patron, His Excellency tho Governor,• committee: Rev. E. 0. Blamires, Rev. Father liickfon, Dr. Izard, Messrs. ,T. M. Clark, H. X. Holmes. Dykes, Craig, J. D. Sievwright, \V. E. Fuller, W. H. Atack, W. A. Flavell, J. M. Geddis, G. Winder, R. A. Keenan, A. 11. Casey, G. Toogood, F. .W. Hayliittle, H. Plimmer, T. A. Gill, T. Bush, G. Talbot, 11. C. Tcwsley, A. Neivton, E. .T. Hill, and A. A. Corrigan. It was decided that the appointments of vice-presidents, secretary, and treasurer be left to (he committee. A sab-committeo consisting of Dr. Izard, Messrs. J. M. Clark, J. Dykes. G. Toogocd, Craig, R. A. Keenan, and H. N. Holmes was set up to draw up a constitution and report to a meeting to he held cext Wednesday evening.