MUSICIANS IN CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 102, 23 January 1908, Page 9

MUSICIANS IN CONFERENCE.

MEETING IN WELLINGTON.*, ,a A REPRESENTATIVE 1 GATHERING'.' " " PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION'* 11 ' ' DISCUSSED. - ~ : A conference of profcSslbnal nui6ioians from all parts of the Domimon was tcrday m the Conceit Chamborof-the 'TQ\tn< Hall ' v THE DELEGATES" The. delegatus* present 'were as follow?—-. Auckland —Messrs. Hunt, and . '/arid Hiss A. Law. Napjer—Herr„ LehtnaiUi, ,«nd. Messrs. J. Fraver and L. Toner. 'fehrist-' church—Horr. Max Hirsahburg, Mrs. Brooke, ' Miss Black, Hcrr Tiirnamann, and 'Mcssrs. Davis Hunt, R. Ronaud, Ross,, mid .Atkinson. Dunedin —Misses Loupoil, aiifl. Barth, / . Signor Sqnarise, and Messrs.'TilrtSoir, Mint- 1 land Gardner, Vallis, and . Duncan. ■ Oam-. aru—Messrs. H.' Hardcmahn,:, and, H7. Ferguson. Invercargill—-Mr.Gray. ■Wellington —Horr Max Hoppe, Miss Richmond, Mad-, amo Carlton,' Messrs. MnughajiKßarnctt,■ Robert Parker, L. Watkins, Raymond, H. : Hunt, and Mrs. Glover Eaton.'A.Aimtok hub i sicmns not attached to.,any".,nocie}y. . | Messrs. Alfred Hill (Wellington),'! Gunter (Palmorston Northland Mis, Blandford (Wangamii),' and several-"-Wellington musicians. MAYORAL WELCOME. C^Lv.4. Tho delegates were officiallywelcomed'-by tho Mayor (the Hon. T.v.W.-Hislop}, who said he understood that this - - was'tho first occasion on which the musiciuns m-NoW-Zea-land had joined together, -to.<for» ward, tho • interests of musicians, "Übuti foXr making progress in the art'in'the Dolni'iiitin." He referred .'to; the influence''of'''music'-foii dtiily life, and went on days co-operation in all; was necessary to obtnin results. Ho hoped;, that the meeting would:<re'sn!t.-.in improving tho conditions 'of ' those 'cngafjed in the 'profession, and also-in the recognition generally of, the :cduoati?e efforts. / (Applause.) • . (S'c -i.-sfi ; ,i>* , ' CONFERENCE Mr;•; R..Parlier JsEr-iMf"!; glian Burnett bo chairman ofvtheywriferepce Ho alluded to the work . Mr. Mnughan Barnett had done in the cause . pf ally, and in the promption !r i9f:> ; t% conference. • V • The nomination 'Was . sbconde<l-byr-Signoi Squarise- (Dunedin),' Mr. W. land) spoke in support, rami; 1 Mi*hß?rflist was elected. ■ -.'.{..ii, it ' On tho ; motion of tho- chairman-. 4ffivot« of thanks/was a'ccordod the;' siding, and. also. for. the usb , off tho Conccrt Chamber. . .pik'azr. Mr. Mnitland Gardner .(Dunedm), was olocted vice-chairman of the,conference.; 'Mr H. Hunt, secretary; and 'Mi'. Mackintosl (Wellington) assistant, secretary. ; - PRESIDENT'S Mr.! Barnett then wentudn -to .exprecs hii gratification at the: ■ presencp.Tof;«-.so -iinanj musicians from all parts of the Dominion He related the steps that-had -led. -up t( the conference. A introducod into Parliament - last session 0 which the Wellington support somo of .the provisions. They had therefore, decided that mpsicii\i^s..,fri}m n th_i chief centres should 1 havo'-ati'-ojiportumty *0 considering any further measures befarfiiidti introduction into Parliament-* Welling ton Society, had requested.,Jirm., ? rangoments for .the pfespnt^cojif^rence.• Ai a result'they, had Napier, Wellington, bunedin,. Bnd Invercargill..'ln lii)< ,ilso been sent,.to . f mnß^^..,p^ronig)t i< ,i! various centreswho .'Wra: iwL.membej'S i ,,0 ■' '.societies. ' I'ewnally.^'hp; every professional . musician., of t 1 liavp received ..invitations, but ..flip, Wellingtoi Society could not undeHakevtlip espep«s,,P-W , consequently the number, lifl-il,to The subjcct- of registration," trit-li "w.hicli, th conference would be. chiefly,.cpiiceniea i; '.liai been exercising the minds' 'of' musicianV"ij the Old Country for many,; years,;. one of extreme difficulty. r jthe con ferenco could accomplish tlj£tiisk ) .pr : .wbptpe it could bo showfl have tho result expected,, ,viz 1351ppr.es 1 sion of • tho incompeteut toucher, gfemaine to be. seen. The speaker-weut-foil-to v r<tfc to.the conditions under wliicji.tljo.,jnusic.iiin of tho. Dominion worked.., .-,'Fhey. 1 had many difficulties to fap(;\~ It.fwas ,diffi cult to kncp.iiv touch with-vpi-^enWay dt velopments'lll music. At prcsp.rit they S'Sf only able to study the orchestral music, and imagine iho-effepfc.-.t the works .of, Strauss and'other modern con posers. H[c hoped it would uofe.bo,,lpng ib' foro they had in New Zeftlaiifl a permanen professional orchestra. f;wh had been trained as concert.<perforniers wei much handicapped'by the coiiditioncjofJiyiii here, necessitating their devoting too maji 1 hours in tho'day to teaching/; Consequentl , their concert work had to •b0 ; limito(i....-Mi ; Barnett also referred tOvthe.v.disadvantag > students under in the lnck of ii , struction possible, and said ho felt that , conservatoire of music oil-proper lines,,-wit ; students' orchestra, regular.Kfipiicerts wii chamber music, and solo wprk. by, professibi als .would bo an immense help; to professional; students.. In,conclusion, he rcferred-witli gratification to .ithe evidence ; .of progress an the musical art, and its iniprpying .recogni-. tion by tho public. Ten year 3 ago,-, Wellington musical' societies were' fortunatoi if -.'.the audience at a concert filled two-thirds.: of the Opera House. Now tlioy could, get the Town Hall well filled. The erection of such a line, hall by, the city, with- its magnificent organ, was surely a sign of . tho times. ~He' also mentioned. tho immense interest taken in the performances of the. ;grcat:'artists who had-visited them. Ho extended .a hearty welcome, to all the delegates."' (Applause.)

REPRESENTATIVB^.^OTING.i, (I ., The matter of representative voting- thon occupied the meeting. • ' Tho president said it had. been - thought desirable, after much consideration, that : nine votes should be allotted to.each of« the four centres. It was proposedLthatisocieties ; of districts outside the four centres should-havo three votes each, and unattached' musicians nine votes. • ;v An alteration proposed'"by^:slr;- J'Webbe (Auckland) was discussed at some length, but it was decided that the 'original' basis of voting bo adhered to. -' ' It was agreed that delegates present should have the- right of voting for. tlio£a ; of their societies who wore abseitt. : LEGISLATION AND REGISTJ3ATION,..., The order paper was then proceoded-wilh,' Mr. J. H. Frayer (Napier) -'proposed "that tho Society obtain legislation for'the inusical profession." In no trade or profession/-he said, was imposture practised- 66 largely as' in the musical profession; -" It 'Was lo'okedupon as a happy Hunting gronndr Musicians should have tho same protective-rights mf -iii' tho caso of tho medical and. other- • profes-. sions. Thoy should stand jinitedly to secure (lie conservation of their rights by Parliamentary enactment. They'sliould be in the; position of showing to an-all. too /'confiding' public who were and who' were not competent (o teach. They did hot-wish to prevent anyone from earning u living, but competency to teach should enable a person to become a registered musician. All tliey desired was to have a registered society, and if the public tool; unregistered teachers (hoy did so at their own risk. ill'. \Y. M.. Webbe (Auckland) seconded the motion, tie said that'over twenty years ago he had raised this sii'inematter. In New Zealand they had main-incompetent socalled teachers, but not to the same extent as in the past. The mode of registration could be decided on later, but it was. desirable that this hall-mark of cflicieiiby—meiiibership with a registered society—should bo within the reach of professional -nitisicians.'i (Applause.) j Mr. Leslie Hunt (vice-president of the. Auckland Society) supported, the motion. «, v Mr. Maitlaiid Gardner (Diinedin), in re.lerring to the Bill before!' the House last session, said that no slight had l>eelHriten()ed by the Duuedifl musicians in ' having ■ oro-'

moted 'the: maasurb without consultation with . the other s societies >p tho, Dominion.: Tho- v:■ >, Bill) had;boon, decried :by. the 'Press and • members, of- Parliament :. because,it-, tu : > > thought they:, wanted to fix a close 1 'i tion and, to v shut, out everyone ■ bnt thenw •- v m wives. This, however, was not the case. .■ : Mr. -L.,:JVatkm .(Wellington) did not con«: ■■ ■ sider ]cgisiation„.wonld...be ; fln ; :advantaco to • musicians whoso, success: vras tho result of their workyvas was the caso in the medical. ' and legaL professions.Ho. however, thought :. v ' good would: result: from:-thc . present confer-: - erice,' and,a Union to draw mnsicians togothei * ■> would in tjiat,•rcspect. bo advantageous. 1 :; v ; -,-in Mr. Hunt (\VelluigtonV,spol;D: on.:simdai > . lines, j i 1 , . \ . Mr,.,j IL.r.E;.;; Gur«tor,:.(Palmcrstoii.: North).' .i: said ho did not bchovo: that . tho publio or.. tho tausioiang.dosing, protection. Tlioipnblio • had: means. of :. protecting i-themselves..':.: Ho ■" would oppose the motion ■...;Mr; Mackintosh, (Wellington) wasonposed" J .- to( t.houdea of legislation.;: Tlio .pubho(lid not: : riquiro protection—they kiiow tneir business : , . i ,they. cppld r not. tell whoro legisln- v■ o tion in-the end would lead thom. . v •.(Mr.vHirschburg (Dunedin).said that logis-. :: ■ lation,, and ■ afterwards, registration, was do- >V; safeguard to the profession, and -. a .stamp of competency-to tho public, who, , * I f they-: desired the best teaohers, would draw from the .ranks;.of- tho Society. - Logisration :v would 'noji interfere . with. touching, but it would 6ifC - ' ■ The .dolmto. was hero interrupted by tho" luncheon adjournment ' ..On'resuming,Mr. • Maugban: Baroott said I: ho -was "opposed:, to - legislation that would ■: • tend to Jumper- art: of any vkind.' Several .p. musicians. of o standing- r i,nth r whom' he Tiad : ; cotivorecd "had been against .legislation ( ra • \ the-direction' proposed..; He quoted English authorities. jn tho samo direction. If there .:, had bcen legislation in the days of Beethoven . and Wagner they would not havo had their chiinceif." "Parliament,-he - felt', sure, would - . refuse: to sanction compulsory registration,' and without' such .compulsory, registration legislation' would be absolutely-useless. • The Mcompotont. teachers outsido the:: Society ; 1 wonld,. : m- time," gain the upper handf and if ' ,thoy allowed them withm their ranks it would •v. Uio an admission that thoy were competent., . Ho : believed emphatically • that; legislation iff '. . : would: be an absolute mistake, : • . ■Trfr. - Albert Vallis 1 (Dunedin) asked , tbap-■tho'se-present • should look for a' motive u this "opposition that had come from Welling - ton' musicians. - What wan proposed nugra •bo beneficial to Duncdni; Chl-istchurch, aim : ' othor'portions :of-"(he/DomwioA;' though no| . to-Wellington.- (Laughter.) 1 They should seolt for tho motive '■:Signor Squanse (Dunedin): spoke in favout of registration. '. ? •: 'Miss. Richmond (Wellington) asked for information as■ to■ tho benefit to bo derived' ■ from Parliamentary legislation. (Applause.) • * Mr.-(Robert'Parker (Wellington). also do- • :siral: the - same 'information. As to :>Mr.* Vallis's remarks regarding " motive," ■ ha. . could not quite understand what the iroputa--1 "tion jrps.. Ho 'did not know that Welling-, ■ , ;ton: had.'.any.axe to grind /.-•;> . r- ,f ; Vplhs! Centralisation. -; .y; • • r Parker: Ohj no!.' Ho.-went on to ox- . .press, the-opinion-, that: the day of incotnpe- ■ ' tentyteashors.iiiriNow:Zealand wasigradually : eomingi 'tO'. a.'cjoso.i;: Ho did not agree with , Parliamentary .interferencci..: They must trust , : to time (to work, ,advaiitagcs ;ii) their: behalf, ■v, and- tho ~present .meeting, was one step in a forward.,direction, i'-!-?:: i , At tho-request of tha meeting, Mr. Mait- ■ land Gardner (vice-chairman): briefly referred to.tljpfbenefits:of,legislation.- It would en- , al)le' L an incorpprato'society: to.do wh((t they ' - were unable; ,tp effeot. at present—namely, i : ' promote. : scho]iirsHips and .assist aged and • j. .needy inusicians. They' required an Act. of - 'Parlmmenfc . : to-icnable-this;.to. be 'done. If • |. they liai-.(egislatipn . and formed; a strong !" .'society;.'they.would .also .be; able to prevont ;.. L thj foijmatioiv;of.other of . . oncap musicians,- for instance. . : :1 , , . Mr. Rohert-Parker instanced ail mcorj porate society of musicians in' England, which '' existed, without lenislatioij. ' • \ : ' ::c Mf- 'Gardner-said'that legal advice had -: [ befen thkeii, . and'-theroVwas no Act in New 'Zealand under, which t-hey could, come. A f sp'ecjalf AAfeps-.desired to -onaUe-thomjto I -formvthemie.lycs:. into r pijo bodyr-swith- certain ,' powers.: • ' :,i }' :V ',Mr. -. (Auckland), said tho English j liicorporate Society ,of Musjoi^iiß..had been; ;. Endeavouring! to -obtain legislation: on ■ the ' j ! ?ame lines as the present .conference. - j Parker: They.are not linauimous. j-1 "-Mf. -Fryor, after : fnrt-her lengthy discus--5 sroii; ! brie(ly replied. . Ho said tjiat at present . 1 tjie.societiej.'of: musicians in the centres were (.'/■pprfproe,, registered under the Unclassified ] Spoieties Act.' If they wishetl to accomplish 'ifiy-'gdod in the directjon iilready indicated,, j .'they,.,must have a'special'Act. If they first f confirmed the desirability of legislation they. - 'could'then go into t tho: matter of, framing a. , Bill.,;: /- ' ' . THE voting. r- -A vote wns then taken, which resulted as, 2. .follows: —.. _ l; . For—Auckland-9,' Wellington 1, Napier 3, ' f (jhristchurch -9, GamarU'3,' Duiiedin ,9, In- - yercargill. 3i-,. unattached delegates 1. t 8, unattached : delet- .'gates: - /' ' r ' . ' 0 ;; Totals—For 38, ■ against .10; majority, 0- f0r,..28.- 'i •-', n :,... v, : . . ...thk bill. ;'i .Signor. Sauarise. then proposed that :Mr. . T: K. Sidey s Bill of last session bo taken as . ' "d ; ' b'ajsis" of, legislation.. Seconded by >Mr. Wobbe, and ■ . Tho coiifercnco at 4 o'clock went, into com--1 mitteo {o ; 'discuss Mr. Sidey's Bill clause by j, clause.' ' '• , . .