COPYRIGHT IN THE EXHIBITION ODE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12461, 26 March 1906, Page 5

COPYRIGHT IN THE EXHIBITION ODE.

TO -Till! EDITOR Of "THE I'BESS." Sir. It \v«s only quite by chance. that I heard of the offer of the Exhibition. Committee to give a prize for an ode on New Zealand to l>e used during the? opening of the Exhibition. I wrote for fuller details, and after having carefully them. I took exception to the clause that provide<l that the committee should have full control of the composition. What other intondin; competitors think of the matter I.do not know, but my opinion m that the committee is endeavouring u> make capitnl out if vhat should undoubtedly belong to the composer. Provided the has any merit whatever, and the details of the natural beauty and wealth of the colony be described in decent ver«> that -will rhym? and scan, it could be compiled in pamphlet form suitable for tit? occasion and sold as a souvenir of the Exhibition. Such a book could be brought out a.t a smnll cost, and should find a re«idy sale*under the circurastaiioe«. If only 5000 copies were disposed of, which would hp'.n small computation, tJio amount reaiisctj would be £200 at on« sOulliru; a copy, out. of which th<?» composer would receive £20. and counting h» time for comiKsinc;, ■writing. rc-wTiting, etc.. lie would gnin about as much a< an, ordinary arti«m would do at an average wace, whilst Ihe winner of the second pri7,e would far better have employed his time picking: up bones and bottles. I should >.ay that under the eirciiTnfitfinc.es i< would piy fhc n-riter to maki> use of his own composition, and oom-

J peto M-ith it in the open market. 1 5-honld like to get tho opinion of other intending competitors on this snbjeci, so thnt perhaps some arrangement might be made with the authorities. — Your?, etc . H. SOt.THEY. Taurjwiga, Bay of Plenty.