An "Amend Honourable"

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 12, 29 September 1933, Page 2

An "Amend Honourable"

Auckland’s Reply ‘to: Christchurch Community Singing Enthusiasts

Special to the Radio Record ELGW we publish Auckland’s reply to the storm of c.iticism avoused in Christchurch by our publication of:a story that Auckland had broken Christchurch’s community singing record. . Auckland has made the ‘amend hongurable- *- Christchurch, ‘what have you to say to that? Bots

O Christchurch is upset over the innocent paragraph I recently penned . concerning Albert Russells "£100 | Sing," which netted a total of "£111 10/7 for the Mayor’s Fund!. I hasten ~ to let Christchurch know that: Mr. Iditor has to be blamed for the head- -.. ing he placed over the top. of that paragraph — "Christchurch Record Smashed !" Albert Russell was_the originator of community singing in New Zealand. Ue started it in Wellington over 12 years ago, and later introduced it in Christchurch, Dunedin and -Auckland. in that order. So he was responsible

in a large..nieasure’ for: Christchurch collecting £750 at their.jsings.. . That must be admitted. Our ‘Albert,’ who has come to the. Queen City to reside, has. collected "more than. the £500 previously mentioned" for. the Mayor’s Yund. The real figures are: In Auck4 land City (Town Hall day and night. sings), £572/10/4 gross; Prosperity Week sing (not previously included in the £500), £75; and to this:must be added £75 realised by Albert’s sings at Whangarei and Hamilton. Add to this £32/10/- for-the: sale of books .and curiously enough the totil-is £755 odd. £5 more than. the, figures quoted for Christchurch which’ were gross! . After all’ community ‘singing is primarily conducted* to give’ people happiness. It has received a new lease of life since broadcasting has been instituted, and listeners have contributed largely to the success of everybody’s efforts. With the fact, of happiness always before Our minds, does it really matter how mutch money is collected by Christchurch or Auckland, or any other cities, because it might unfortunately finalise with the secondary consideration becoming the _primary factor and having an effect of.a detrimental nature to community singing. No libel on Christchurch was ever intended and Auckland trusts that "Honour "Due," of Richmond, Christchurch, will no longer be annoyed or indignant. Let’s not make it a controversial: subject. The Cathedral City will be the first to be congratulated by the "Queen ‘City if it raises a greater . total for the relief of distress: by means of community singing,