CORONATION MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 29 June 1911, Page 7

CORONATION MEMORIAL

A "PREPOSTEROUS" PROPOSAL. J (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, June 28. '• Tho decision of the permanent Coronation Memorial Committee to approach Dr. Harriss with a view to getting tho Sheffield Choir to give a matinee.concert on Sunday in aid of the fund for the memorial has been received 'with indignation by the citizens. The "Press" this morning described the proposal as simply deplorable. "We cannot imagine," it said, "what possible right the committee think they have to bail up a travelling musical organisation like thd choir, tho moment it lands on the wharf at mid-day on Sunday, and invite the members to give up their Sunday afternoon to help a local charitable movement. The thing .is preposterous. If this rich and prosperous city and district cannot put up. the necessary ,£3OOO for the home without cadging for assistance from visitors,- then the sooner the whole project is dropped the better." Mr." 0. T. J. Alpers, the president of the Canterbury Committee in connection with tho choir's visit, speaking to a ."Press" reporter to-day, said that the proposal placed. the committee, in a regrettably undignified position. Tho etrdhger has.barely; placetf.his foot within our gates when we approach him cap in hand to bey an alms. Mr. Alpers pointed .out • that the choir, during the present week and the next, will be quite the hardest-worked body' of people in the country. In the course of six days they will have given nine concerts, and travelled some 700 miles by rail and 230 by sea.. They arrive in Cnristchurch in tho middle of the day on Sunday. A rehearsal of "The Elijah" with the local auxiliary choir is called for tho same evening at nine e'clock. The programme here includes three evening concerts and a matinee on Wednesday. No combination of artists has over accomplished so many performances within' such limits of time in New Zealand.. It is onlv by engaging special trains and travelling 'by night that the programme as laid down can be carried out.