THE MUSICIANS' BILL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 168, 16 July 1907, Page 3

THE MUSICIANS' BILL

OPPOSITION TO THE MEASDB.E. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Sidey's Musicians' Bill has apparently raised considerable opposition. Itis provided in the bill that all persons shall be entitled to have their, names incorporated who are members of the Auckland Society of Musicians, the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians, the Society of Musicians of Southland, Oamaru Society of Musicians, the Society of Musicians of Otago, and the Society of Musicians of Timaru. Wellington is not included. Members of the societies mentioned shall become members of the body ipao facto, and shall be registered with fee and without application. The other qualifications for membership are as follows: — (b) All persons of the age of 21 years or upwards, who satisfy the Council that'they have been professionally and habitually engaged in composing, teaching, performing or writing upon music for the period of three years or upwards immediately preceding the coming into operation of this Act; (c) all persons of the said, age who are, in the opinion «f the council, ol established reputation in the musical profession; (d) all persons of the said age who possess a degree, diploma, certificate or other }<roof that they have passed an examination held by any examining body recognised by the council; (t) all persons of the said age who shall have passed the examination prescribed by the society. No person is to be registered under paragraph (b) unless he shall apply to the council within nine months of the passing of the Act, and no person shall be entitled to be registered who is "not of good character and reputation. The registration fee for each member is to be £1 1/, and the annual fee the same amoiint. All persons who are members of the society may describe themselves as such, and shall be entitled to use after their names the letters: "Reg. Mus." or " D.S.M." respectively. The council will, among its various duties, appoint a board of examiners to hold , the tests prescribed by the Act or the council's regulations. Cases of misconduct may also be dealt with by the council, the names of offenders being erased from the register. A provision is made in the bill for reinstatement.