AUTHORITY NOT UPHELD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 5

AUTHORITY NOT UPHELD

— BreBS Associatioii.)

Why Cathedral Organist Resigiied half-hearted support

(Bjf Telegraph-

GHRISTOHHROH, Last night; "The cause of niy retitement is simply that the bishop, dean and ehaptbr haVe m&de it impossible for me to carry on ae cathedral organist and choii'master and keep niy self-respeci. For many years t had a very happy position. The bishop and the dean of those days were heartily in sympathy with tny Work and in every way nssisted the choir to carry out its itnportant ftinction in the service of the cathedraL tJnder the i'ecent control, howcver, there has been a ch&nge and half-hearted support and pinpricks have culminated in a straightout refusal to Uphoid fiiy authority. tn the Circuni'Stances nothing was left me but to l-esign from aii appoiiltment W"hieh for 35 years formed a lafge part of my lif e. ' ' ThSSe remarks were made in a statement for publication by Bf. J, C* Bradshaw conlinenting oh his resignation last month as cathedral organist and choirmaster and on the resignation of 10 oUt of 14 members of the cathedral cho'ir. Df: Bradshaw appends to the statement correispondence between himself and the ehapter. His first letter referrpd to the case of a choir-boy who was frequently a trliant from praciices and services and was guilty Oi' other offences against the choir ruiesi After ignoring i'epeated chances the boy was suspended f'roin the choir, but the ehapter, through a sub-committee, asked Br, Bradshaw to give the boy a furtlier trial for three months, This he refused to do as he eonsidered the boy unsuitable and an undesirable infitience ih the choir, The ehapter, althoiigh the offences were admitted, allowed the ooy to retain his gi'ammaf schooi scholarship and Br, Bradshaw was not pei'initted to repiaCe the boy in the chdifj Attother matter deait with iii the eorrespondcnce was the alloeation at, a performance of "The Hyinn of Praisi" of offeftofies to the inaintenance fund lhstead of tlie choir fund, in respeet oi which Br. Bradshaw and the choir m en declaTe the ehapter guilty of a breach of faitln Another difference Was on the dlsciplining of the boys. Br. Bradshaw was directed iidt to impose punishments to "ihfringe on their alfeady limited spare tiirie. ' ' This xheant. as Bw Bradshaw sthtes, that he waJS lidiited to the use of the strap, which he cbnsidered intolerable. Br. Bfadshaw refeis to other differences cn less ihiportant fnatters with tlie ehapter and thfe headniastet of the^ Cathedral Grammar Schooi, where the choir boys are edudated. Bishop West Watson refused to Comirtent on Br. Bradshaw 's Statement.