THE AUCKLAND COMPETTTIONS AND THE STATUS OF AMATEURS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1911, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND COMPETTTIONS AND THE STATUS OF AMATEURS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —-Now that the syllabus for the year's competitions has Joeen issued, it is to he hoped that the committee will define the status of an amateur a little more satisfactorily than was the case last year. ■ In the conditions for the Dunedin conrpetitions it is clearly stated in two places that an amateur "means one who has not received remuneration of any kind whatever for the exercise of his or her talents in. the particular section in which he or she may compete. Prize-money won at these or similar competitions not to aiToct the status of an amateur." This lis quite fair, and in accordance with the rules laid down by «±hletie clt_bs the -A-orld over. The Auckland committee, however, takes a different view. Last year an amateur was defined to mean, "One whose income is not mainly derived from the exercise of his or her talents in the particular section in which he or she may compete." This, especially in tbe vocal section, opened the door to every seraiprofessional in Auckland. iWhat chance, then, had bona-fide amateurs (who would proba.lv be nen-vous) against ladies and gentlemen Rin.-jing with the confidence •l>orii of long experience, and the knowledge that tln'-ir vocal efforts were considered good enough to be paid for at all fcho local concerts, although their incoino.-* -might not have been "mainly derived" from the art? Some of those who entered for tin- competitions last vetr failed to put ia an appearance wha i the time c:ime, because, having soesi the jia-mes of those with whom they hue to compete they knew they wo-Id have jno- chance of wirmdnxr. One gen'.'teman vfyo was in the habit •. speaking exfen.'yore twice every Sunday, i elite ted for the tcnivomptu spee?li. He did not compete for some reason or oilier wlic-n the hoar arrived, but the other competitors in the class could not know that he would be absent. We inve beesn told that the object of thes<- competitions is to promote the study of"mnsic and literature among the youthful =er-+;or of the conrmunitr. Tf this end is to be attained the budding talent be fostered,

not discouraged. Unless the status of an amateur be altered to 'that laid dowfc •by the Duae-in co-amittee, or something similar, the prize-winners of last year may possibly find themselves alone in the field this tone, as bone-fide amateurs may feel that it is practically useless to enter the lists against, popular favourites who are virtually professionals. I may add that as I was not a competitor in any of the events last year these remarks are not prompted 'by feelings of resentment.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. METHODIST UNION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln reply to my friend, Mr. Olphert, permit mc to state that there was only one method by which I could obtain for your reporter the number of adherents in each of the t__o Methodist Churches, vi_., by deducting the number of our own from the total of alli Methodists, as recorded in the "N.Z. Year Book." Mr. Olphert may have forgotten that the figures -which he quotes were 1 carefully examined in 1906, and found to 'he wholly incorrect. Householders ' and census enumerators ap_?ear'to have ' been hopelessly confused with regard to ' the names of the two Methodist Churches in the land. The 1011 cs*s_s returnmay be equally unsatisfactory; hut the recent harmonious session of the com- , inittee on Methodist union is an indication that we may yet be able to record all our names as belonging to the one "Methodist Church of New Zealand." It may he of interest to some of your readers if I append the latest official i returns of our Church, opposite to the totals for both Churches, "/ported by i the United Committee, and printed in your issue of Saturday:—

hi o = 5 •6 c Adiierents 98,508 81,740 Members and communi«aut.s S«,512 23,000 Sunday-school evhOtaTS.. yO,100 23,900 Sunday-school teachers 3,023 2,':j<jO proacljcrs 935 727 Class leaders 209 14ti Ministers, nrobatlonerp, and Jionie mlsslonarios 247 193 CTiurches and other preaching places 1,121 070 I am, etc., A. C. LA WRY. St. John's, Ponsoirby.