MUSIC STARVED.

Shannon News, 21 January 1924, Page 3

MUSIC STARVED.

A STRONG INDICTMENT

Mr Algernon Lindon, who came from England this year as the examiner for th© Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, finished his examinations in Dunedin just before Christinas. In an interview witli a press representative he said: — “If I may be permitted to put it with brutal frankness, music in New Zealand is being starved. No official support is given to musical art in any shape or form, so far as I can discov; er. You have no communal must a, no conservatorium, no great orchestra, no recognised string quartet, no fund from which to support young students who wish to go on to some definite goal. It is to my mind an amazing state of affairs. You have an abundance of talent, and apparently see ,no value in it. I hope that this is not a sign that New Zealand is given over to things material, to the neglect- of things spiritual, but that is my present impression. What else can one think when, amongst all the .statements made by Ministers of the Crown and other persons ol' influence and authority, one never hears from tfiem a recognition of the necessity in a civilised community for the cultivation of art and the encouragement of activity in that sphere of life? New Zealand is practically the only part of the outlying Dominions in which that state of affairs is noticeable. Australia, though largely ruled by Labouii which is not commonly supposed to place much value on art, gives music a definite place in life, lor there are lour coiiservatoriums there, one supsuported by the State, and in a, general way it may be fairly said that music is well supported, both financially and sympathetically. Of South Africa the same is to be said. The conservatoriuin in Capetotvn is one of the best in the Empire, and there are two permanent orchestras. Canada, too, is doing its duty in this mattter. There is a conservatoriuin in Toronto, and music examinations are held in connection wjth the McGill University. “So far as my judgment goes, New Zealand has the possibility of equalling any part of the overseas Dominions musically, if it had the art atmosphere. I find, a great deal of ability in the students, but what is going to be the end of it? A spell of lessons Math a teacher, and there it stops. There is no fund from which to send the capable students Home. There is no encouragement to music in your university scheme. The studentship is wasted, and the trouble does not end with the waste for students. Your teachers are handicapped for want of communion witli fellow-artists of rank. The .greatest teacher must in time rust if for ever in a place where he can never meet musicians of equal or higher calibre.

“If I am.speaking strongly, it is because I feel strongly. New Zealand must get out of her isolation if she is to be great. One good conservatoiiuim of music would be a first, step towards bringing this delightful..country into its own. Two or three such institutions would.-not be too many.”