TRENTHAM CONCERT-GIVERS DIFFICULTIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 3

TRENTHAM CONCERT-GIVERS DIFFICULTIES

The difficulty of securing motor-cars to take concert parties to the camp at Trentham was the cause of a meeting which was held in the Y.Ii.C.A. rooms in Willis Street yesterday afternoon. .Mr. Vaxney presided.

In his preliminary remarks, Mr. Varuey spoke of tho way in which tho entertainment of the soldier iu the north of Franco was regarded by the authorities. iliss Lena Ashivell mouths ano had organised concert parties, iu which were included same ,ot the finest artists that were to be found on that side of the world, to visit tho men who wero lighting, and provide them with'relaxation from tho stress of warfare. She was assisted in her organisation by tho Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A., and in a letter which was written by hor she described the many strange places in which these entertainments were given, tho many thousands of men who attended them, and the encouragement ■which was given to her enterprise on all hands, from tho military authorities downwards. It was recognised that these concerts and entertainments had a great effect upon the moral© of the troops, many a man saying he could the better go under lire with music ringing in his ears than without it. The concerts served to emphasise tho fact to tho men that the people at Home thought of them and appreciated what they _were doing, and what they were passing through. Mr. Yarney went on to say that practically tho same people lent their cars every, time, and he felt very unwilling to continuo to ask their assistance so frequently, Mr. C. M'lntyre. representing the INew Zealand Natives 1 Association, Mrs. Chatfield,' the Victoria League girls, both of which organisations, as well as tho Y.H.0.A., have been responsible for very mauy concert parties having been taken out to Trentham, agreed that the position was very unsatisfactory, and ways of meeting tho difiiciilt.y——a difficulty that is very real, although there aTe about 850 motor-cars m tho City—wero fully discussed. It was emphasised that only really good concert parties were wanted at Irentliam- There were so mauy men with a knowledge of music there that anything less than that was not wanted, and was roaily an infliction. The three bodies, the Y.C.M.A., the Victoria League girls, and the Natives'. Association, had been very careful to see that their concerts were thoroughly well organised in every way. Although tho need for reliable means of transport for these parties to Trentham had been made public, there had been no increase in the • number of cars placed at th«ir disposal, and practically no assistance in tho matter had been given, by the Defence authorities.

A scheme was finally formulated in which a committee was to be set u|> that would be responsible for the concert parties which would go out to Trentham. This committee would wait upon the Minister of Railways to see if railway facilities could be given them for tlio winter mouths, and aJso it would interview the Camp Commandant and put certain matters in regard to concert parties before him for his agreement and assistance. Furthermore, it was proposed that a fund should be raised out of which the performers' fares to Trentham and back should bo paid.

Another meeting t.o advance matters is to be held on Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock.