AN EXHIBITION CONTRETEMPS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 262, 9 November 1906, Page 5

AN EXHIBITION CONTRETEMPS

RIVAL CONCERTS AND THE CONSEQUENCE. (By Telegraph.—Own Reporter.! CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Poor Mr. Munro! lie has discovered another diuiculty, this time not originating in Christchurcti. Mr. Frederick Shipman is on the one side as manager for Miss Marie Narelle, the vocalist, while Mr. Munro, as chief director of the Exhibition and the controlling power of the orchestra, is on the other. Miss Narelle was booked with her concert company to give a performance to-night in the concert hall, and to repeat the concert to-morrow evening. Thus, the Exhibition orchestra was relieved of the

task which it has so far unsuccessfully essayed—that ot filling the concert hall. Accordingly the Exhibition authorities decided that the orchestra should provide free music this evening in the main corridor, about 50 yards from the concert hall. MR. SHIPMAN'S VERSION. '•"When I heard this at 10 o'clock last night," said Mr. Snipman to mc this evening, "I went off to Mr. Munro, determined at once that Marie Narelle would not sing if there was an opposition concert in the building tho same night. Mr. Munro told mc ho could not see his way clear to alter the arrangements. The peopie, he said, were clamouring for free music, and this was a chance to give it to them. I retorted: 'You have 150 nights in the season for your orchestra, and it is bad taste when you arrange for only two nights in .November to have a "star" concert in the hall to stick an opposition concert on the mat.' I said, 'Marie Narelle won't sing,' and I've stood on that pat," declared Mr. Shipman. It was, as Mr. Shiprnan said, the Narelle concert did not come off. Would-be patrons war.dered into the open concert hall, and strolled out to hear the orchestra, which, under Mr. Alfred Hill's direction, rendered an excellent programme of operatic selections in the main corridor. Lor once the chairs, which cost a penny to hire, were snapped up, the hall was filled with listeners, and the performance was voted a thorough success. STATEMENT BY MR. MUNRO. Mr Munro was asked for his version of the dispute, and he was willing to give it. He said: "Until 10 o'clock last night I knew nothing of Mr. Shipman's objection to the Exhibition orchestra providing the public with some free music in the main corridor of the Exhibition buildings. Without admitting the reasonableness of the objection—which indeed I considered to be unreasonable —I suggested to Mr. Shipman, for the sake

of peace and quietness, that the orchestra should play , from seven to eight o clock only, or not commence until 8.30, 'so as to interfere as little as possible with his concert, but nothing short of the total suppression of the orchestra would be accepted by Mr. Shipman. I'm ■Exhibition's patrons are clamouring for more music, both inside and outside of the buildings, and in my opinion rightly so. The occupation of* the concert hall by Mr. Shipnmn made the orchestra available for the first time for playing elsewhere, and in the best interests of the Exhibition, and of those who are daily paying admission. I was bound to take advantage of it. Mr. Shipman's position is a little selfish, to say the I least of it, as there are numbers of people attending this Exhibition who who could not possibly attend his concert. The attendance to-night will I probably be 10,000, while the concert hall only seats IGOO. Mr. Shipinan might just as reasonably have demended that the water chute or the cyclorama should be stopped, and perhaps he might, in deference to Miss Narelle, have I dosed his pike on both nights." Mr. -Uunro has a partiality for"ultimatums, and he concluded characteristically, "We will lose a royalty on to-night's concert, but I'll immediately sue Mr. Shipman for the amount on the basis of a full house. To a "Truth" representative who interviewed him on the Narelle episode, and who asked if he still intended to hold a free orchestral concert in the main corridor this evening, Mr. Munro replied by asking: "Did you ever hear of mc breaking my word?" H e added. "Certainly the orchestra is going to play from halfpast seven to eight. The band will play outside the main entrance, and then the orchestral programme will begin. • The people are asking for music, and they I are going to get it." DISPUTE WITH WOOLSTON BAXD. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The treatment given to Miss Marie Narelli and to the Woolston Band has been the talk of the Exhibition and the city to-day. Mr Munro ordered the band out of the grounds yesterday because it demanded a payment of 10/ to each member if it played in "Wonderland." The position taken up by the band is that it, together with other local bands, was engaged by the Commissioners to play at the Exhibition for £4 for each performance, and thirty season tickets for members. When the I Vv'oolston Band arrived on the grounds yesterday it was ordered to play in "Wonderland." Mr Munro was informed that, as "Wonderland" was a side show, members would have to be pn.id 10/ each. There were twenty-five of them, and the total cost would therefore be £12 10/, instead of £4. Mr Munro then told them th.it they had better hand in their tickets., and they retired. •It is stated that £4 for each Derformance is a very small fee, and that it was agreed to by the band as a matter 'of pure patriotism, and in a desire to help the musical part of the Exhibition. THE COMMISSIONERS' DISPUTE. CHRISTCHUE.cn, this day. Nothing is yet definitely settled regnding the differences between Mr Munro and his fellow Commissioners. A definite decision will be arrived at this evening. It has been suggested that the selling rights committee take in hand the reports .that overcharges are being made at the tea-rooms, and in other catering branches. It is expected that the mat" ter will be investigated, and, if' necessary, remedial measures adopted.