“NOT A TOWN TOY”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 8

“NOT A TOWN TOY”

PLAYING OF CARILLON z A question was asked by Mr. J. H. Howell, director of the Technical College, in a. letter regarding the Moujit Cook War Memorial scheme which appeared in The Dominion yesterday, as to Whether the playing ot the carillon would not seriously interfere with the 3000 day and evening students attending classes at the Technical College. To a Dominion representative, Mr. H. D. Bennett, chairman of the general committae of the Wellington Wai Memorial Carillon Society, said he was glad Mr.. Howell had asked the question, because, it gave hint an opportunity of clearing up what appeared to be a misapprehension to a good many people. The position was that the carillon was not intended to be played on more than a maximum of 52 days. Of these, 3G days would be battle annivcrsancs, the list of which had already been drawn up and published. Thus the bells would be played on a minimum of (16 and a maximum of 52 days in the year. How often and how long the bells wei'e to be played on these dates or any particular days of the series had Vet to be determined, but the public could rest assured that they would not be plaved when it was inadvisable or too often. Certainly noth’ng would t tolerated that would tend to cheapen this sacred memorial.

“The' policy of the society,” concluded Mr. Bennett, “is that tlie carillon is not to be regarded “s « town to, to be plaved on anv occasion, but is to be plaved reverently in memoriam,- on these battle anniversaries and other State or national occasions.”