NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1570, 14 October 1912, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Those who take an interest in music in Wellington will agree that in Mr. J. Maugiian Barnett's departure from this community Auckland's gain will be a distinct loss to Wellington. By bis ability, fine enthusiasm, and capacity for work, Mr. Barnett won a place in the forefront of music in this city, and year after year has strengthened that position. _ Whilst St. John's Church authorities must be thanked for having induced Mr. Barnett to come to 'Wellington in the first Ijlace, it .has been in the broader fields of music that he has come into his own—as an organist of high standing, and as a choral and orchestral conductor of undoubted talent. His fight to establish the first municipal orchestra in Australasia less than two years ago is still fresh in the memory—there arc none now to sav that the fight was not worth while. The question the city will be faced with is who is to carry it on? In vie\y of the recent disagreement in connection with Sunday concerts, the idea of a coalition between the Municipal and Professional Orchestras may find support. | The municipal orchestral concerts, though high-grade as to quality, have not attracted the public as they should, whilst there is no doubt as to the popularity of the Sunday concert. An alliance might lead to what the music-loving public and the council both aspire to achieve— the provision of high-class music at cheap prices at a time when all can attend. As conductor of the Royal Wellington Choral Society, Mr. Barnett has_ done a lot of sound work, and his place will be a difficult one to fill. Much of Mr. Barnett's work in Wellington has been unremunerative, and pMiably that has something to do with his acceptance of the post of city organist _ at _ Auckland, the salary for which is greatly in excess of that paid in Wellington. In music, a man may _go a long way towards wearing himself out in performing professional work gratuitously, or nearly so—concessions not contemplated in any other profession arc often expected from the musician, ihe departing musician is held in such high esteem in Wellington, and has done, so much for music here that some recognition will no doubt take practical form before Mr. Barnett removes to Auckland at the beginning of tho new year.

It .is encouraging to note that the Wellington Waterside Workers, like some other unions, are not prepared to be dragged unprotcstingly at the heels of the Federation of Labour. At the meeting of the union held on Saturday afternoon a large section of the members made protest against laying down tools" at the dictation of the Federation, which wishes the men to penalise themselves and dislocate tho business of the community for the sake of making an empty and useless display. It is singularly-out.of place for the Federation to expect the waterside workers to cease work in view of the agreement entered into early in the present year under which the union and tho Federation expressly undertook that work on the wharves should always proceed in the pustomary manner. It was part of the undertaking entered into in consideration of the improvement in working conditions granted to the waterside workers. The actual wording of the particular clause of the agree-1 ment referred to reads as follows:—

I lie essence of this agreement being that tho work of the employers shall always proceed tho customary manaier, and shall not, on any account whatsoever bo impeded, it is agreed that if any dispute or difference shall arise between the parties to this agreement, or any of them (whetkor as to its construction or meaning, or as to any other matter whatever ajismg out of, or oonnected therewith), every such dispute or difference,' as tho same shall arise, shall bo referred to a committeo to bo composed on three representatives of the union at tho port concerned a,nd three representatives 'of tho employers for their decision. The decision of the majority of tho committee shall be binding, and, if no decision is arrived at, the committee shall submit the point in dispute to some independent person to be chosch by it. If his (fee is ion is not acceptable to both, parties, then the matter shall be referred for further negotiation to the New Zealand Federation of Labour and tho employer or employers concerned." The first five lines of tho above clause impose an obligation on the wharf workers, which, as honest men, they cannot escape without committing a gross breach of faith. But quite apart from that consideration, their own common-scnse must tell them that they aro being asked to do a silly thing. They are being told to lose a day's work and to make fools of themselves, and fall out with their employers, in order to "save the face" of the leaders of the Federation of Labour, who have got themselves into a bad mess through their blundering over the Waihi strike. What effect is the proposed "demonstration" likely to have on anyone cxccpfc the loss of a day's work on all who are foolish enough to take ])art in it?

The Public Servicc Bill would now seem to have passed through such perils as appear to have threatened it in the Legislative Council, and may be expected to reach the Statute Book this session. The closeness of the division on Friday last, when the vote of the Chairman alone retained the term of appointment for the Commissioner provided in the Bill, was not justified by the merits of the issue. The term of seven years for which the appointment is to be made cannot be regarded as too_ long, if the propose l change embodied in the Bill is conceded to have any merit at all. It is necessary to the success of the Commissioner system that suitable persons should be appointed as Com-

missionors, and unless some security is given of a reasonable tenure of office ifc is auito impossible' to exU

pecfc the Government to bo able to sccure from outside the Service men capable of filling tho positions. As a matter of fact, tho salary provided for the Commissioner is by no means a tempting one when the responsibilities of the offico and the qualifications required for it are taken into account; and Ministers will probably discover this when they cast around to find the class of man they want. To have cut down the term for which the appointment !? Illa d® would have increased the difficulties of their task. In the circumstances it is very satisfactory to nnu that this danger was avoided even though it was escaped by the nanow margin of only one vote.