BROADCASTING POLICY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 10

BROADCASTING POLICY

I CONSERVATORIUM OF ! MUSIC "NOT A THING OF BRICKS AND MORTAR" "Not a thing of bricks and mortar only" was a phrase used by the Director of Broadcasting (Professor James Shelley) last evening to describe the conservatonum of music and the spoken arts which is it planned to establish in the Dominion. As the university existed wherever there was teaching, Professor Shelley «aid so the conservatonum would be throughout the Dominion. At the opening of the new 2YA station at Titahi Bay on iVlonday evening, Professor Shelley said: 'Guest artists, conductors and _ Producers from overseas would be invited not onlv to broadcast, but to stay for a considerable time and teach local performers in the conservatonum." Elaborating this statement in an interview last evening, Professor Shelley said that it was not planned to displace New Zealand teachers by bringing artists from overseas. The idea was to bring the teachers themselves under the influence of the best artists it was possible to bring to the Dominion and in that way to encourage the practice cf music and the spoken arts. As it would be represented by good teachers in all the centres, the conservatonum would be Dominion wide and not merely an institution working in a single centre. It should be possible, Professor Shelley said, for New Zealanders to conduct the music examinations which are held annually in the Dominion. Under the present system, an eminent musician was sent to the country to do the work. It would be one of the aims of the conservatonum so to equip New Zealand musicians that they would be qualified to do work like that under the direction of the overseas examiners. With" such a system in use the overseas examiners could have a much greater influence on the arts of the country than they could have under the system now in use. A National Orchestra The national symphony orchestra to be associated with the conservatorium would include a number of musicians who would put all their time into the work of the orchestra. It would not be possible, for financial reasons, to have a large symphony orchestra in each of the four centres. To do that would absorb a large amount of the broadcasting service's income. So it was intended that the orchestra should practice works at its headquarters, and, after performing them there, visit the other centres. Only the fulltime members would travel, and the orchestra would be brought up to its full strength by players from the city being visited. The part-time players in the various centres could be practising simultaneously. Tublic Performances The artists to be brought to New Zealand would be the best it was possible to bring, Professor Shelley said, and one thing which would help toward this would be the system under which they would give their performances. They would play or sing or speak in halls to which the public would have admission at a reasonable charge, and they would be given every opportunity to exert their influence for the benefit of the Dominion. J L . Broadcasting was the greatest influence in the world to-day, Professor Shelley said, and the job which had been entrusted to him was to guide New Zealanders in their use of it. It was not his intention to foist anything on the Dominion, but to provide for their needs as they declared them.