MUSIC IN ROTORUA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 January 1932, Page 6

MUSIC IN ROTORUA

NEW ZEALANDER.

(To the Editor) Sir, — As an occasional visitor to Rotorua and a New Zealander interested in the welfare of our tourist traffic, I am somewhat disappointed in the result of the efforts of the authorities to provide evening attraetions for visitors on holiday to this iruly wonderful resort. I refer specially to the musical ^ection which I notice is provided by •he Municipal Band, and without reTeeting in any way on the capabilities of the bandmaster and the material he has at his disposal, it would be fair to say that whilst this band compares quite favourably with other eombinations in towns of similar or aven some larger towns in the Dominion, it is of no particular interest to holiday-makers from other narts of New Zealand, and as an overseas' attraction it has very little to "ecommend it in a tourist resort so 'mportant as Rotorua. What is really wanted is a first elass orchestra that can play all kinds of music from fox trots to the classics. It need not be large numeri^ally, but an orchestra of eight to ten professional players, with no pas--engers could give infinite enjoyment ro hundreds of people who prefer open-air recreation in the beautiful surroundings of the Sanatorium Grounds. What is more, since the advent of the talkies numbers of first class nlayers are available, in fact, some of them at least may be living in Rotorua, and the balance could be obtained from the larger cities. The cost may be somewhat greater but the orchestra would further enhance Rotorua as a tourist resort. We are aware that the Matson Steamship Company are about to commence running a line of steamers unparalleled in luxury, including New Zealand as a stopping place, and they, as well as the shipping companies already operating, will for their own sakes alone spend thousands of nounds in their efforts to attraet tourists to the South Seas. We have already a very attractive feature in the Maori entertainments, but we cannot overlook the value of first class music, and it is up to the autliorities to once more reconsider the value of the. tourist traffic to the Dominion as a whole, with Rotorua and the thermal regions as the main attraction. — I am, etc.,