A DECLINE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1929, Page 3

A DECLINE

MUSICAL STANDARD IN DOMINION.

MR - WILLIAM HEUGHAN

pessimistic.

•CHRISTCHURCH,- August 20’

That there had been a liiilrked de-' •Miiv* in liit standard of nibsi'c in New Zealand, even from last-year, due in a large measure to Hie introduction *'f ■■t:\Uriefi,” was an opinion expressed by Mr William Heughan, the 'ttish singer, who is now in Christchurch. i ■'■ ' -

Mr Hevighan prefixed an interview by stating that he and bis coihpahy had now passed the 150,000' miles ■vinrk in their. world tour. Since their last .visit to New Zealand they had visited Australia and the Orient, a year’s journey. .-

THE LAND OF STRIKES. ; : • ’ , \ “So far as Australia is concerned,” ■said Mr Heughan, “I have never been there when there was not a strike on. Our last - visit was. no exception. The great possibilities and potentialities of the ..country are being, ruined iby these .industrial troubles. There are great possibilities for development—nature has been u very prodigal even in the weather. When it rains, it keeps oil raining,, and/, a drought -is really ; , a Klro"ghtv ;Either/ something, is very good or very much other way. Australians, generally, seeniV to Ue terribly lacking in love for their.country. Tlie ’prosperity is all on the sirrface. Buildings are going up everywhere , and improvements are being made, but all the people are complaining. ' ■ j • • ‘‘The cities .of Australia have really grown too big for the size of .the•country- : The people are making the iViistake of comparing themselves with the United States, overlooking the fact that , there works hard and the on:e who works the hardest gets'tlie most , for it.

“Australians as a body are not in-: (••lined to work and raise up the individual who does no work. I want to emphasise that I. belong to ho political ' party ••' when I say that there ■ are lots of men there dying to work but kept idle through the wishes of their leaders. The secret of the prosperity of America lies in the fact that America pays for ability, and not only attracts wealth but the best brains, the best artists and best wotkmert.' I say that' to ■ show ; what ; we must sguard against /within tlie Umpire. England has .not; the need for such advice., and 1 ..1 [ v.-.hop,e ..that,,. Jle’iv. Zealand will* not take, after Australia, as the .faults I mentioned are putting that country in a very had-posi-tion. The industrial unfest has (caused such widespread* dissatisfaction in the money markets that the money is not being invested jn the country. I have heard men at "Home say they preferred Australia on account of ihe climate, but would go .to Canada, where the industrial troubles were, not encountered.

/ “artificial. ” . « t “A great many people, are under the imnression that there is a high ■taridard of living in Australia, but .it •s merely an( artificial standard. You can buy Australian fruits cheaper in' England than you can on the home market. They have a standard whereby "they cannot produce for markets abroad without; Government bovnti,°s for the industries. Practithe only things that do not carry a bounty now are wheat and wool, and when we left they were trying to procure a bonus on wheat because the world’s prices pad .gone ■,dbwn. Tliis accounts for tlie heavy taxation borne by the people. • ■' <<The result is a hopeless tangle of finance and bad business. Personally, T would not invest money{in Australia. I would look foi/a/ more stable country. " -

/, • . THEATRE -PRICES. “Another 5 per cent has. recently .been imposed as extra taxation on the gross receipts at theatres, ini Adelaide. This means that for a 6s ticket tlie TV’blic pa vs •7 s 6d, to include both State and Commonwealth taxation. Because of this imposition,, people who would come to two. performances come now to one only. Under,'both -the. State and. Commonwealth taxation, the people are'complaining and blame us, as if it was our fault. Under such conditions, it is practically impassible tb make our. work pay. On top of this, there ,is expensive advertising and no concessions on the railwavs for , travelling companies. *•' It makes the work hopeless. When .I. get to America, I shall take up talkie work. I am .practically forced into it. . - . : ... ,

THE TALKIES. “The talkies are a fine thing for us, hut it Will he a pity if they come to stay. Tlie artist loses his personal touch with his audience, >and the audience is not attracted by the persondlity of the artist.. Then, again; when the touring. artists are eventually cut out by the talkies, as they must be, the young people will; hover see the artists in person, .and aiiy young person possessing talent will have to leave New Zealand to 7 see and hear tliem to learn .wliat their voie’es are like or wliat the musician plnys like'. “Lots . of people will say that the talkies, will never put out tile real artists, hut those who say that should retn’ember that, if thby do not sup-

port the artist when he appears in person in their town, they are adding' another hail to the cofhn of touring artists. If, when we return, say to America, and we are asked.how busiC/ ness is in New Zealand or ./anywhere -i else, we are bound to tell the inquir- ;. era just how things stand, and if thereport is not favourable it will stoiV other companies f'rohi coming.” Air Heughah 1 went on'to'.talk of a “ *: symphony orchestra established At’ / Bangkok, Siam, wit'll 'Over sixty iit'- ; ' struhientalists; Npiie' of them had / ever heard a real orchestra but, by ' mertiis of'tlie gramophone, the musitf had readied Such A standard /that it ' could not be equalled in Australia of New Zealand. . lie asked what'- would; ~ lin'ppeh when the talkies ■ ‘ reached those p'Arts. /U:" . yvC : Returning to conditions r* ih ' Now Zealand Mr Heughan : said . that as the talkies gained a hold at - was be-‘ ♦ ; coming more anil mhre' difficult to get’ halls for performances. r The moment'; talkies were ahstHllejd they had to , run every night to make . them/ pa*,’,' as the rentd demanded; wefe so higln ' : that it would not <pay to have 'concerts. “I want to emphasise,’? he said, “that it is practically’ certain M that I will never be able .to come here professionally again. This-tour will be the last. I am fbrded ; into v talkies as I liave been told that niy .

voice Is ’one that will reproduce well. ' “There is a decided difference . in ;y tile standard of' music\in v land since even Last year,” continued ; \ Air i/euglian. ?‘due not altogether to; ‘ the talkies, although At 'is’ in y those cities where the talkies < arctfTTin-; ning and not so-noticeaihle 1 else\V|iefe/A'. ;• “Are' the people going to beyCbh&iy.*’ tent to have A photo of their-fn£n<js • ,i with a gramophone ■ record; of- -their• voices; in preference meetings their friends in person and hearing vfneir’ ;-' •voices?” asked Mr Heughan’ in s {■'' eluding.-' • .. '' iru i ‘ " I’ ■ c