AS OTHERS SEE US.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3419, 25 February 1920, Page 6

AS OTHERS SEE US.

___o___ THE NEW SOUTH WALES _ ORCHESTRA. I in Auc.k"l‘a.nd H.'erl' Vanbrugglmll made some interesting comments-—not altogether colnplimentary. Upon the prospect of the successful establishment of a State orclxestrr“. in the Dpminion he did not speak very enthusiastically, “Of co"urse, every State and even every municipality should have its own orches’cra,’»' he said, “but if your Government or your city decide to establish an orchestra they must have the hall crowded

every time it performs. Otherwise it will die out. It is 110*‘ the few players -that make the orchestra: it it is the people themselves. And it seems that if you are not prepared to patronise a visiting orchestra, about which a certain amount of curiosity must exist, your own would not. be a very great success." Concerning the prices charged.. for admission, and the complaint the success of the tour had be<;?';-_~_ni,ar::qvl by the severely clasicr‘t3~‘pé.».«mo,f “the music, Mr. \7erl)ruggllan~mene&§a§qill, that there was plenty. of~~mo1aey: f-ear theatres and for other -—amusemqms;,, and that good music must,-be paid for. “VVe Have tried,” he said. ‘to make the concei-ts‘-”I1s "p§p"ll%ll3'%3"fi'U§_3§,»le, but if we had come with really cla.s- w sical music there miéfitmbagéfi been‘ some just cause for complaint. It is! all a matter of educatioll}"‘.'l§'€ ailcledl .‘.‘ ‘:30;-'

that the patronage at the concerts in the North Island -had been far better than at those in the South The question of a return visit of the orchestra was also mentioned, but this matter was not very enthusiastically taken up. “Personally I should ‘like ‘to come again very much,” the conductor said; “but certain circumKstances mitigate against our return.” ‘Mr. Verbrugghen then remarked that ‘his players ‘had been subjected to very grave discomforts during their travels. Certain unscrupulous hotelkeepers had treated them as mem« bers of a travelling circus, and railway travelling had been far froml luxurious. He remarked that they had expected t‘}.la.f:' the Government would provide a special train for the longer journeys, especially considering the fact that there were over twenty ladies in the party. “Under these circumstances I should not like to ask the orchestra to travel again,’-.’ he added. “On‘the other hand,” the speaker remarked, “we have been very deeply touched by the welcome given us in every town, and we shall -carry home the happiest memories» of the people of‘New Zealand.”