A DOMINION CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10069, 10 February 1909, Page 4

A DOMINION CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

(Pee Pbess Association.) Christchurch, February 9. Speaking at the annual prize distribution in connection ■with, the School of Arte, Mr 6. W. Russell, M.P., chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, referred to the proposal to establish a Conservatorium of Music in NewZealand. He expressed the hope that the time was not far distant when the board would be able to do the same for music as it had done for pure and applied art. _ He had not endeavoured to force his views in regard to the Conservatorium of Music, but, as his hearers were no doubt aware, his proposal hed met with tremendous hostility from a body which was called the Society of Professional Musicians of New Zealand. Wherever there was such a class or caste as that of the professional musicians theTS~was probably likely to be some opposition to the idea that State assistance should be given to a Conservatorium of Music. He did not think that the ladies and gentlemen who formed the Society had any need to fear that the whole sky would fall, and that all their opportunities of earning their livelihood would disappear if a conservatorium were established in some part of New Zealand He had been exceedingly amused when he found that the very same body which had shown such hostility, to the idea of a conservatorium, and had branded him as an aritator, had actually proposed that a professional orchestra should be established—a thing that would cost from £30,000 to £40,000 a year, and which would perambulate the Dominion, giving orchestral concerts for the purpose of educating the public taste. He supposed that the professional musicians would all have fat billets in connection with the orchestra.— (Laughter.) He had very grave doubts whether the Government and Parliament would be prepared to place the large sum on the Estimates which would be required for that purpose. Parliament would be far more likely to spend one-fourth of the amount in establishing a Conservatorium of Music, where our young people would be able to learn musical science without being compelled to go to Europe for the purpose of completing their education.