The Globe. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1464, 25 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1878.

It appears from the Parliamentary report, that a movement is to be made in favor of having the so-called New Zealand National Anthem sung in the schools of the colony. It is satisfactory to learn, however, that the Government, while undertaking to distribute copies, propose to tako the opinion of the Boards of Edutiou on the subject. If the Boards express an honest opinion there can ho littlo doubt what their docision on this point will be. As an exercise for the lungs this ditty may, when sung in chorus, be as good as any other. But the primary function of the Boards is not to consider the lungs of their pupils. As an educational exercise the New Zealand National Anthem possesses about as little merit as any piece which could be selected. Its metre is not always correct; it contains more than one sample of a false rhyme; its ideas are, to say the least of it, intensely silly. We are aware that it has been much praised in some quarters, but all the world knows that at least two-thirds of the praise bestowed upon colonial compositions, poetical, musical, or philosophic, is bestowed out of pure good nature, and from disinclination to discourage the development of native talent. This is, we think, a very honorable weakness in colonial critics, and there is no doubt that, by overlooking faults, and occasionally bestowing a somewhat exaggerated praise, they have at times done good service in giving a chance to the inexperienced. But still it must be admitted that it is a weakness, and advantage must not bo taken of such undeserved laudations to impose upon the public. Mr. Bracken's anthem is a very well-intended effort, and its sentiments are perfectly moral because to a great extent meaningless. It is a jingle on "free land" and "Zealand," without being much else, and to suppose that it will be the National Anthem of future Now Zealanders is to suppose that the good sense of tho race will greatly diminish instead of increasing with their years. That spirit-stirring ode, "John Brown's bones," is not to bo called a highly artistic production, but for all purposes which a Natioual Aid hem could be supposed to serve, it is gold to pinchbeck compared with the feeble inanities of Mr. Bracken's muse. Wo should not have found it necessary to speak thus plainly of the harmless effusion, if no attempt had been made to givo it a fictitious worth. But when a suggestion is made in Parliament to hold up to tho admiration o£ the colonial children, and instil

into them a production which is very littlo to be admired, and must in some measure enfeeble their judgment, it becomes a duty to protost. Wo trust, therefore, if the Boards thiuk a national anthem is required for the schools, that they will not rashly adopt the first ware of the kind that is offered. Lot them offer a prize for competition amongst the first chisscs in the schools, and they will receive a vast variety of odes, of which not a few will certainly surpass that of Mr. Bracken in sense, and probably in rhyme. It is not pleasant to write thus of one who is a very worthy man and a good citizen; but then Mr. Bracken should not move his friends to interfere on his behalf to promote the publicity of his productions. Let him go on rhyming by all moans. Ho will doubtless have his readers; but do not let him attempt, either directly or indirectly, to use the Government for compelling people's children to sing or learn his ding-dong foolishness.