“NOT MUSICAL”

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 168, 12 April 1932, Page 10

“NOT MUSICAL”

New Zealand Characteristics EXPERIENCES AT FRONT Speaking at, the inaugural meeting of the British Music Society last evening, Mr. T. B. Strong, ■ Director of Education, gave it as his opinion that New Zealanders were not a musical people. It was not their habit to “burst into song,” as other nationals, particularly on the Continent, did, and when they did the results were not always inspiring. Even at the front in the Great War the New Zealanders were referred to as “the silent company.” « Agreeing in a measure with the speaker, tile Mayor. Mr. T. G. A. Hislop, who was presiding, said that the lack was due to inbred self-consciousness —New Zealaders always thought that someone was looking at them. They were even backward at cheering. Only once had he heard a Wellington crowd cheer well. That was when the Prince of Wales came, and even then it was only because It was in the evening, and people could not see each other very well. “But,” said Mr. Hislop, “I have heard our men sing splendidly on occasions even when the cause was artificial; they can sing, but don’t like to do it before others.”