CHAUTAUQUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1922, Page 6

CHAUTAUQUA.

NEW PLYMOUTH SEASON,

SECOND DAY’S SESSIONS.

The New Plymouth season of Chau tauqua was continued yesterday.

In the afternoon the McKenzie concert party provided a delightful entertainment, which was thoroughly appreciated by the large audience. Miss La Desca Loveland proved to be the possessor of a pleasing soprano voice, and was heard to advantage in “If All the World,” “Daddy’s Sweetheart” and “The Cuckoo Bird.” Complete mastery -of the violin was shown by Mr. Warwick McKenzie, who gave several items. The pianiste was Miss Ella McKenzie, who, besides playing the accompaniments, played several selections, including one from Chopin, all of which were well received.

Mr. St’. Leger, an ex-member for Queensland in the Australian Senate, was the speaker for the afternoon, and took for his subject “Some Problems of the South Pacific,” upon which he spoke forcibly and convincingly. The future of our destiny, pointed out the lecturer at the outset, depended upon our appreciation of the problem of the South Sea Islands, with which we in Australia and New Zealand were inseparably involved. He recalled the Jtob lems and difficulties of the past, especially the period between 1910 and the early davs of the war. In 1910 the Asquith Government was charged by Mr. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, with not being alive to the Imperial position in the South Seas. Then, in August, 1914, came war. New Zealand took Samoa and Australia New Guinea. This new problem required new measures and a new policy. The great import-, ance attaching to the lecisions reached' at the Washington Conference was particularly stressed, especially the new 5—5—3 naval ratio scheme, which was destined to have a great effect on hisIn passing, the lecturer dispelled the illusion that the United States wished to challenge Great Britain’s naval strength. It was the union and coi operation of these two great EnglishI speaking nations that was to prevent the South Pacific from becoming the cemetery of the world’s navies, the grave of national ideals, including our own. We in New Zealand and Australia had to face the new position, and had been entrusted with mandates over certain islands; but. if anv nation attempted to interfere, we had to resent their intrusion forcibly. Australia s present policy was persistently blind and. if continued, would lead both New Zealand ana itself to an ignommous end. pregnant with doom. Half Australia’s population was in Ihe cities, thus leaving large empty spaces fot the yellow and black races, whose own country was overcrowded, to populate. Mr. St. Leger graphically pointed out , the dangers of letting the' colored races ' art a* footing there. Tn order to keep them out white men had to he brought in. We to-day held our countries, with all their benefits, in trust for our children’s children, and the man who said there was no more mom for whites, and the time was inopportune for a vigorous immigration policy, was a robber of the children's heritage and a traitor to his country. An inspiring address was, at the lecturer’s own wish, brought to a conclusion by the singing of the National Anthem.

THE EVENING SESSION. . In the evening the McKenzie concert party again appeared, all three members gaining a flattering reception. Mr. Warwick was recalled no less than three times for his violin selections, whilst the singing by ’ Miss Loveland and the pianoforte selections by Miss McKenzie also found popular favor. The lecturer for the evening was Dr. Loveland, who spoke upon Bolshevism and its relation to the present industrial unrest. Dr. Loveland is a clear, concise and forcible speaker, and the stirring lecture he delivered will linger long in the minds nf those who heard him. During the evening Mr. C. H. Burgess made an appeal on behalf of the local guarantors that as many as possible would make a personal guarantee to purchase a stated number of tickets, so that Chautauqua could be brought back to New Plymouth in 1923. WINIFRED WINDUS TRIO.. Miss Windus is a prominent American reader and interpreter of plays. She possesses all the requisites of a great artist —talent, grace and beauty —and an originality that is refreshing and remarkably verstile. She will give “The Twelve Pound Look,” by J. M. Barrie. “J. Alexander Browne possesses one of the richest and most pleasing baritone voices in Australia” —thus do competent critics write. The Hobart Mercury says' of him: “His rich baritone voice is 'produced with grace and ease, aided by an inborn artistic style.” Guy Marriner, solo pianist and accompanist, is an Aucklander who has been very successful on the American Chautauqua platform during the past two years. t