“ON THE DECLINE”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 123, 17 February 1921, Page 7

“ON THE DECLINE”

MUSIC IN WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING The Wellington Harmonic Society held ills annual general meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening. Air. F. S. Pope, vice-president, occupied the chair. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman said ho wished to utter a word of warning wioh regard to music generally' To 'his mind the, practice and performance of music in Wellington had for aome time been on the decline. In the old days there was a great deal more interest shown in music than at the present time. Music in the home was then most common. Tho decline in home life was the root cause. A great deal could be done by parents by taking practical measures to try and induce the young people to indulge more in homo music. While the gramophone was a useful adjunct to a musical education, it tffiould not be allowed to take the place of the practice and performance of music. In appealing to members to make a special effort this year to secure further vocalists, especially tenors, the chairman emphasised that • unless care was exercised music in Wellington might reach the vanishing point, within 20 years. Concluding, Mr. Pope paid a tribute to the valuable services rendered during the year by tho conductor, Mr. H. Temple Whitk. The report and balance-sheet were adopted and the.sum of £5O was voted to Mr. White for his services. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., was re-elect-ed president, and Mr; Walter Fuller was added to the list of vice-presidents. Other officers elected were: Conductor, Mr. H. Temple White; hon. deputyconductor, Mr. F. V. Blandford; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr.,V. R. Bennett; hon. librarian, Mr. W. J. Blake; hon. auditor, Mr. C. J. Ellison; lion, piauiste, Mrs. T. Coventry;, committee, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Orr, and Messrs. Coventry and Patterson.