MAORI RECORDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 894, 11 February 1930, Page 7

MAORI RECORDS

INVESTIGATING TRADE POSSIBILITIES j VISIT OF MR. W. A. DONNER “I think there are possibilities in j Maori records, and one of the objects of my visit is to inquire into this question/' said Mr. W. A. Donner, ! managing-director of the Columbia Gramophone Company (Australia), Limited, who arrived from Sydney on the Marama this morning. For this purpose Mr. Donner will pay' a visit to Rotorua, aud if he is ; satisfied with the prospects a record- | ing expedition will be s?nt out from > Australia in the near future. This is Mr. Donner s first visit to I New Zealand, having only recently | arrived in Australia from England, j After remaining in Auckland for a short time he will visit Wellington. Just before leaving Australia, M . : Donner interested himself in providing practical relief for the professional musicians who, through the influence* of the talkies, had been thrown out of employment. An orchestra of 50 specially chosen artists had been organised and records were made for the Columbia Company, this being the first time that a full symphony orchestra has been recorded in Australia. Military band records were also made, and the royalties from the sale of these records will go to the relief of the unemployed musicians, a ! cheque for £IOO in advance being handed over by the company. Mr. Donner is of the opinion that there is a noticeable change for the : better in musical conditions in Australia, and also in economic condition- ; He feels sure that a big improvement ; will be noticed in the latter part of i the present year. | “With the establishment of our rei cording plant in Australia we have been able to do a great deal for Aus- | tralian musicians, said Mr. Donner. 1: is a policy of our company to do whatever we can to encourage musical appreciation as we think that it is for the benefit of all concerned.” Mr. Donner is firmly of the opinion that the musical standard of a country has a lot to do with its general prestige. An interesting item that Mr. Donner mentioned was the fact that he took Mr. F. C. Chichester, the New Zealand aviator who recently flew from England to Australia, out to the Columbia studios, where a description by Mr. Chichester of his experiences en j route were recorded. ! “It was a great performance, and well deserving of being placed on record,” said Mr. Donner.