MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1598, 15 November 1912, Page 6

MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

. —<►-. —, — ■ WHAT IT HAS COST THE CITY. MR. BAMETT'S SUCCESSOS, . The City Council.. decided last night that applications should be invited for the position o£ City Organist,- at a salary of MiO per annum, applications to be advertised for in Australasia and in England. The matter came before the council as a recommendation of the Finance Committee. . ■ The Mayor '.(Mt. .P. M'Laien) said that the council was, of course, desirous of fostering good niusio, but the state of the city's finances had to be considered, and it was therefore proposed to offei- no more fer thte position thanwasat present paid— £2W> pet year.. \ ' Encourage Local' Talent. Councillor E. Fletcher moved t<). delete the Words, "and England" from the. motion. Ho did not see why tho council should "import" an orpnist when there were capable men within New Zealand. ; Councillor E. Tregear seconded the Amondment, which Councillor J. Godber also spoil* in favour .of, The Mayor .remarked. that it would.bo aninso to absolutely, debar all people who might apply from Bngland, as. there were young l\ew Zealanders in training in that country. ■ The amendment was lost by 6 votes to 8, . ■ ' Councillor Jullcr moved a fiiftjjer rtmondment, which was to the effect that tho matter should bo referred back tothe committee. His- reason was that the council should do away with tho practice of keeping a salaried organist, and substituting it by engaging organists at, sny, £5 ss. per recital. i Councillor L. M'Kefizie- seconded Councillor 'Puller's amendment. He said that Wellington.had.had a very fine organist for some time, but the- trouble about such high<los3 artists was that they [ could not be expected to come down offtheir high pedestals and plajr tho music which the people wanted. Councillor E. Tregear said that it Tttis very doubtful if the council was justi- j fled' in (.pending money on organ recitals when there such poor attendances. Thsre were thousands of people who never bothered at' all nbont tlwse recital?. Councillor A. JL Hindmarsh remarked that it seeme.d that Wellington hail followed a precedent in the matter of its c.fty ottf-nn. There was an idea that, linving | a Town H*U, they must fit it out with a ing organ, find now it was contended thnt, having got our expensive organ, we must spend more money to get it used. However, it wa-s no use- throwing good money after bad, ftnd it might perhaps bo well to institute instead a scholarship pf jSSSO per year aa a means of encouraging the study of music: . Counbillor Puller's amendment was lost on tho casting vote of the Mayor, ,and the clause out-of which the discussion arose was then carried on the Mayor's casting vote. Recitals and Concerts—The Cost. A report presented to tho council stated; that the city orgaiiist was "required to 'give an avoraje of ons recital per we«k (luring the y«ir, to piny at municipal funstions as dwired, and generally ,to tafoj cltarrs of tho organ." Christmai Day and Good Pridav wore specdally reesrvc?l for recitals. The salary is .£240 pw annum. Other than: tne above, the organist is a freo «geat. The rrceipta and eSpenditnr-e for the last three years in ceniKcHon with the recitals were as follow:—To March 31, 1911: Espßnditur-e, .£337 Us. Gd.; receipts, ss. U.: loss. ss. To March 31, 1912: Expenditure, £M 6 Is. Gd.; receipts, AiSl Is. Gd.; loss, .£153. To November- 9, 1912: Expenditure, .£293 15a. Cd.; receipts, JiZO-i fe. Gd.; loss, -m 13s. ' ■■ ■ ■ Tho returns for the two years reir.irding tho municipal orchestra are as follow:— lMt: ExpMiditnro, .€3BB os. 5d.; receipts, -vCiil-i Sfi. ; loss, i"3 12s. 5d.; 1912: Expenditure, MIS 335. lid.; receipts, X 237 45.; Iftss 45U Ss, lid. "The loss for the first year (continued I tho repart)—,£73 Iss. sd.—was reduced by the council voting X 25 thereto, and three guarantors li.nd paid .03 Gs. 9d. a* their proportion, nlid witltdirnwn frnm the I gUiirantns, nralcing the net loss for tho year .615 .ss. 8(1., and this, carried forI ward to' the socand yoar, makes a- total [ net loss of J. 258 Us.' 7d. This sum is j covered by th? guarantors, and mny 1» [ called up by the council."