ORCHESTRA FEES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 3

ORCHESTRA FEES

Telegraph— Preas Agsooiatlan.)

Country Hall Committees Complain UNABLE TO PAY

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PALMERSTON N., This Day. ■ With every brand of worker now under an, award, it is not surprising to hear of musicians provided with statutory rates of wages. Unfortunateljr for country hall committees and sports bodies who conduct euchre parties and dances', the wage increases provided are being passfed on in the ehape of higher fees, and these the country organisations declare they are nnable to pay. A meeting of delegates from hall committees in the district surrounding Palmerston North was held at Kelvin Grove last evening to discuss the situation, when there was a unanimous opinion that, unless the fees were rednced, country functions would be a thing of the past. Representatives were present from the Kelvin Grove, Bunnythorpe, Whakarongo, Kairanga, Newbury, Raumai, Pohangina and Longburn hall committees. Mr R. A. Mercer (Kelvin Grove) Dresided.

Mr C. M. Tunnicliffe (Kelvin Grove) quoted the award, which providea the following fees: — For concert and card i parties, dances, assemblies, cabareta and night clubs, etc.: 8 to 11 p.m.: Pianist £1, orchestra ,15/- per performer. 8 p.m. to 12 (midnlght): Pianist £1 5/-, orchestra £1 per performer. • After midnight: 7/6 per hour for each performer. 10 p.m. to midnight: Pianist £1, orchestra 15/- for each performer. 10 -p.m. to 1 a.m.: Pianist £1 12/6, orchestra £1 7/6 per performer. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Pianist £2, orchestra £l 5/- per performer. Just "Stung" Committees. * Mr Tunnicliffe said many small country halls could not afEord to pay these fees. If some of them took £5 for a euchre and dance funetion they were doing well, and now it seemed they would have to pay most of it away on tlio* orchestra. The award would ruu out on December 7, 1937, and in the meantinie the hall committees shouldgefc togother as a body and sco that tlicir side of tho case was duly represontcd. " Previously there was no fixed chargo by oreliestras. It seemcd that wlien work was slack they wero generous in their charges, and when there was a demand for their serv'ices the bands just "stung" the committees.

When iigares were compared it was calculated that the new charges represented an increase of 33 1-3 per cent. "Mr Mercer: It means we have either to jmt np the door charge or shut up the Lnlls. Mr Tunnicliffe: And then, if the door charge is increased, many won't come, ospecially in the districts nearer to the city. Mr Birch: Many people forget that the halls are theirs and tlicy should r.upport them. They always seem to want the best at the smallcst charge. Mr Tunnicliffe: J f we raiso the price wo einpty our halls. Entitled to Some Increase. Mr Purton (Newrbury): We will have. to ' ( dig up" a pianist from amongst

our own ranks for a few dances after the euchres. Mr Birch ®aid he was prepared to move, as a xecommendation to hall committees, that they refuse to engage orchestras this winter and depend entirely on local tal8nt gratuitiously given. He thought that when the country people knew the position they would rally behind the committees. Other delegates, however, acknowledged that the musicians were entitled to some increase, and the committees should be prepared to meet them and work harmoniously together. Mr Heggie (Bunnythorpe) moved that a delegation from the Hall Committees ' Association be sent to meet the orchestra leaders with the object of making special arrangements for music at country halls. The motion was carried. 1