CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16218, 22 May 1918, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

WAR FUNDS

TO THK EDITOK OK "THE PRESS."

Sir, —Your correspondent "A Willing Hoiso" draws attention to the Rapidity with which appeals are being made; this cannot' be helped, and we must all do the best we can, if wc do that, all the appeals will be suoccssful. No doubt many have given most generously, nioro so than perhaps was prudent, owing to appreciating somo special cause; such must be excused, as having .lone their best. It must rest with each one to ask, have I done what I ought, and what I can? It is everyone s national duty to ask this question ana act accordingly .—Yours, etc., an advocate for prisoners OF WAR FUND.

THE COMPETITIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF "TIIE PRESS." gjr X have read with interets the article in this morning's "Press" on the Christchurch Competitions by "Strad." . Whilst agreeing with your correspondent's remarks in some of his report, I must certainly differ from him in at least two of his suggestions. I believe it is generally admitted that it is easy to criticise, but to adjudicate on the question of the merits ,of I 20 (or over) competitors in one class and place them correctly in their order | of merit especially when, say, out of half a dozen of them there is hardly | anything to choose,_ is a most delicate j and onerous operation. There will always be "gasps of dis-| may and astonishment" when results arc declared at any competition, and I myself was surprised at a few of the i decisions, but, when one remembers that the judge of th© vocal and mstrumental section this year is a man of world-wide • experience- and lie has » the music under his nose at the time of rendition, it is extremely probable that he records some slight technical fanin" -that is not so palpable to the ordinary critic. . . j Then, again, must be borne in mind the fact that tfte "recall" varied in his or her performance at the second time" of asking and (in some cases) considerably. , _ "Strad" deplores the fact that Dunedin scored so heavily in the vocal and piano classes, so does the undersigned, but the clever little lady from Dunedin was favoured greatly by the more mature years of experience as her serious competitors were younger, in fact, not out of their teens, but this was Christchurch's misfortune, and will no doubt be rectified by time. As to the piano awards. I was of the opinion that Christchurch girls were quite up to their Dunedin sisters oil che whole, but there must again liave been some slight technical error that' just put them out of the premier award. Now, I certainly do agree most emphatically that it is decidedly unfair to mix up contralto and soprano, as Is done at present, and this is a fault that should bo remedied next year, pjb it would give greater zest to competitors and bring a larger following of both entries and spectators. Now, it would be interesting and instructive to me, as an experienced London stage manager, to know where the stage manager for the Competitions failed.

I must say that I appreciate and invite criticism at all times because it reveals, or should reveal, to us our faults and is helpful, but then no 'man is perfect. Well, jolly good, luck to the Competitions, the committee, the competitors, and to all concerned. —Yonrs, etc., EX-LONDONER.

May 20th,

P.S.—I may say that I am in no way connected with the committee, the judge, or the stage manager.

CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."

Sir, —As many of our soldiers' mothers are very anxious about -what is to become of their sons, who have come j laouiCJiUi' iiouuic, Will you kindly state clearly what is the Defence Department going to do about tnem ? „

I beliero already somo of our Canterbury boys arc being sent to the North Island sanatoria, and this seems to be causing another period of separation from tho relatives, who havo already had so much of it. I feel time has come when we need a definite statonient as .to whether or not these cases are to be sont away or kept near home. I hope an abler pen than mino will take this serious matter up, and do something to prevent this grave injustice being 'done to our brave boys who have come back more or less affected by this dread disease.—Yours, ptr SOLDIER'S FRIEND. May 21st. . ,