MUSICIANS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 6

MUSICIANS' UNION.

CASE OF THE CHORAL SOCIETIES. MR. J. MAT'GIIAN BAENETT'S OPINION. As the demands made by tho Professional Musicians' Society may have a very damaging effect on choral societies and amateur liodies generally which occasionally engage professional musicians, a Dominion representative waited on Mr. Maughan Barnett, musical director of tho Wellington Royal .Choral Society, yesterday. and obtained his . opinion on this point, "Tho claims of the union, as far as they concern the choral societies and Municipal Orchestra, are, in my opinion," said Sir. Barnett, "quite impossible, and if enforced must have a disastrous effect on the musical progress of the city. "Tho Royal Choral Society, alter a hard struggle extending over some five or six years, has managed to 'turn the corner' financially, but it cannot possibly bear the increased expenditure which the union seeks to impose -upon it. It would lie forced to dispense with tire orchestra, and, in consequence, its operations would bo limited to a deplorable extent. "The Municipal Orchestra, established only about eighteen months, seems to bo going through vc-ry much the same experience as the Choral Society in its early (lays. Discouraging as the present support accorded its concerts'may be, it must bo borne in mind that adequate public interest in any movement connected with art cannot be aroused in a day. Even in London it is only during quite recent years that the now-celebrated Queen's Hall orchestral- concerts have been a financial success. I believe that the Municipal Orchestra will eventually receive satisfactory public support, provided it can bo run on present lines for a little time longer, and can keep up its standard of performance. "Wellington had the honour of being tho first city in Australasia to establish a Municipal Orchestra, and it would be a thousand pities, both from musical and patriotic points of view, if the concerts liail to be abandoned. 1 should lie sorry to think that the extinction of (he Municipal Orchestra was the deliberate aim of the union. But tho success of the latter claitu,?,.would certainly' have that" effect.' Rather would I hope that the unreasonableness of these claims was the result of hasty and insufficient consideration." .