MUSICIANS' DEMANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 7

MUSICIANS' DEMANDS.

EFFECT ON PICTURE SHOWS, AUCKLAND VIEWS. (By Telegraph-Special 'Correspondent.) Auckland, May 7. The proposal to inaugurate a Performing Musiciana' industrial Union oi Workers is one- which vitally allccis tho interests of the local operatic and choral bodies, also the various moving pictures entertainers throughout the city. Willi a view to obtaining some idea ot how the proposals wero regarucil locally, a "'Star" representative interviewed a number of gentlemen wiio were qualified to speaK on the subject. I-'rotessor Thomas, conductor of tho Choral Society and tho Orchestral Society,, was the first approached, lie reluted to say much on the matter. "I haven t studied the question at all yet, be said, "and consequently am not prepared 1g say anything about it. We have only a lew professionals in our ranks, ami, ol course, it' the union is formed wo t-Uuil lutve to give them what they ask." Professor Thomas declined to discuss tho deinaiu.s further. , . Dr. .1. Hope Lewis, president of (he Auckland Amateur Operatic .Society, also stated Unit ho had not yet given consideration to the proposed increases. 'It t ho proposals nvc brought into operation, no remarked, "I should think it would mean the end of our society." The manager of one of the leading moving picture enterprises proved more communicative, and hail very emphatic view* on tho subject. "If they're not careiul, ho stated, "they'll mako a mess of k. Personally, I think the scheme will prove ! unworkable. Tako tho continuous mov- [ in" picture show, for instnnco. 1 lie. demand is for .£3 for six consecutive performances of threo consecutive hours. -U would be quite impossible to comply wuli this proposition. In the first place iltoio is no continuous show in ?sew Zealand where tho showing of tho complete set ot pictures only takes one hour, Ill© I 1 is more like nn hour and a half, which moan? that in addition to having to pay musicians a considerable increase pei hour, wo will havo to pay them overtime. It will simply mean that the manageinents will resort to mechanical devices, 6 uch as the pianola and the electrical pianos, but even then the union is demanding that tho man who presses the button for the working of these nppliis to be paid 10s. a week. _ FlsO thim* is preposterous. A man ptoymp a Irinplc or a drum is placed on Ihe same plane as a violinist. II will simply moan that some of the vaudeville and oilier shows with largo orchestras will out down thoi''.orchestra as much as possible, lho double bass and trombone and tho fillups' will lie the first to go. and what (iboufc the medium players? What chaueo will they have? If a manager has to pav a high ""flf®. ' ,e i R *°i a R ' mve t ' lo v»fv be s t man available, and the man who i« not so efficient will be thrown out on to the hard world. There tiro any amount of musicians who recognise their limitations, and arc- quite content to play for M or £3 a week, and yet because tho union savs tliev nr." to have .ill UK and .1:4 a week. I liey are thrown overboard, The whole thing is impossible."