THE COMPETITIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 129, 22 August 1927, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS

THE Auckland Competitions Society begins its annual festival to-day under happy auspices. There are 300 more entries than were received for the last festival and the prospect for the permanent and successful establishment of competitions in the North seems to be assured. There are some who do not think that competitions are desirable; who argue that they promote precocity in youth and do not serve to broaden musical education. The majority holds otherwise. It is conceivable that an ill-chosen list of selections would do nothing toward increasing the public knowledge of good music and it is admitted that in the past much “tosh” has been permitted to be sung and declaimed from competition platforms. But those who have the control of these festivals have gradually moved forward and, by consistently advocating the elimination °f jejune compositions, have done much to improve the general standard of the performances. Anything that tends to correct and improve the speaking of English is deserving of support. After all, there is but one way of speaking our language and so many good citizens of Empire persist in being individual in this respect. The competitions, by pointing out faults in diction and offering judicious encouragement to the better performers can do much to improve the general standard of speech. In this respect, and in the presentation of well-chosen musical programmes, they serve a definite purpose in the community life. The support of citizens should be freely given to this earnest endeavour to improve the cultural standard of the community ; a standard, be it said, that is already remarkably high.