The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1912. THE AESTHETIC SIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 168, 3 December 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1912. THE AESTHETIC SIDE.

The success of the New Zealand Musical and Elocutionary competitions at Wellington shows how popular these functions can l>e made under proper administration, Most of the 'larger towns, and a good many of the smaller ones also, in New Zealand now indulge annually in these entertaining and instructive gatherings, and we really see no reason why New Plymouth should not follow suit and organise an annual series of competitions 011 similar lines. Man is an ambitious, as well as a gregarious, animal, and the amateur tenor and the embryo actress. and the budding Paderewski like nothing better than to "do their little stunts" 10 an audience of admiring relatives and friends. Competition and emulation are, naturally, the leading principles in developing genius and ability, and iu this connection these contests form a very useful adjunct to our social life. The recent performances oT the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society and the gatherings of the Brotherhood and other winter functions have proved very emphatically that there is musical and elocutionary talent in our midst and to spare, whilst neighboring towns are equally well blessed. If a series of Taranaki competitions were organised, with New Plymouth as a centre, we should not have to go outside the province for entrants enough to make the enterprise an immediate success. Most of these societies have begun in a small way, but we have yet to hear of one that lias not progressed year bj r year to larger things. As a simple matter of fact, we are too prone to neglect the social and aesthetic side of life in New Plymouth in the rush to grow rich. We have no Savage Club, no Licdertafel, and even our Band has been allowed to go desperately near to extinction through pure lack of public support. Incidentally, it wculd not be amiss if the Band were induced to arrange a series of Sunday concerts in the Recreation Grounds and at the seaside during the summer months. This would help to popularise their playing, attract visitors to our beautiful Park, and at the same time provide the sinews of war for new uniforms and new instruments. But to "return to our muttons," tue establishment of competitions in our midst would foster anion" both young and old an inclination for an intelligent study of music and elocution by providing an incentive for diligence and care. The ultimate result would, of course, be reflected in our

homes and upon our local concert platforms, where people naturally turn for relaxation after their day's work. The old days of spelling bees and minstrel shows appear to have gone for ever, but the competitions would provide in a more elaborate form a source of entertainment and instruction for both participants and lookers-on that would very worthily replace them. It only requires some energetic and enthusiastic spirit to take this matter in hand, and we are convinced that there would be quite sufficient public support forthcoming to make a success of at any rate a modest initial effort.