MUSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 2

MUSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

TO TIIK EDITOR Sir, — May I venture to trouble you with a few moru remarks on this subject, which really wrnts clearing up. Tho original statement, which was freely mado and gonerally accepted before tho Chancellor gave it the weight of lub oilioial utterance, waa to tho eltect that from four to iivo thousand pounds left Now Zealand every year to pay for tho English examinations ; and it was assumed that this amount, if 'by any means it cou|d - ba secured, would provide an incomo for tho proposed conservatorium. Sir Robert Stout now frankly admits that Iho amount was hasod on a \.rong calculation, and has brought his figures down to about half of the original sum, which is a correct estimate of the gro^s amount received from fees. i would, however, respectfully romind him that of this amount nearly £1000 has to bo fepent in the Donnn.on, by way of railway and fctearner faroß, hotel bills, hire of rooms, ameitising and printing, and other incidential expenses, which bring tho net roompts down to the amount I stated, viz., £1500. The university authorities might perhaps bo able to manago with less local expense, but their examineis would not bu üble to travel about lor nothing, and there h a great deal of clerical work, advertising, etc., which they oould hardly expect to ho done gratuitously. But, and this is the main point of the whole question, how do they proposo to compel the teachers throughout New Zealand to discard the English examinations in favour of thoir o\in? Even if the formur were prohibited by Act of Parliament, which is unthinkable, it would bo found that the majority of tevchern would refine to send up candidates for the local men to examine. I am credibly informed that the universities of Melbourno and Adelaide, so far from augmenting Ihfjir revenue from this sourco, have lost a considerable sum in the attempt to ovorritlo the Aseociatod Board and Trinity College, whilo the receipts of there bodies h»vo increased enormously throughout Australia. Is the University of New Zealand prepared to face a similar experience? In thanking you for your indulgence I may Fay that I shall not trouble you again on this matter, unless I am compelled to reply to obvious misstatements. — I 'am, ROBERT PARKER. Mr. Coop, of Little River, has threshed 1500 bushels, of bailey fioin twenty acres of ciop on his pioperly at Price's Vail p. v.