GERMAN MUSICIANS IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 33, 9 February 1915, Page 10

GERMAN MUSICIANS IN NEW ZEALAND

THEIR EMPLOYMENT OBJECTED TO. (BT TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Bth February. The presence of German musicians in the orchestras of certain moving picture theatres is causing concern to themembers of the- Auckland Performing Musicians' Union. Many of them strongly object to the employment of subjects of enemy countries when musicians of their own kith and kin are out of work, but the problem which they have to solve is how to act within the letter of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The judgment which waa given in Sydney a few days ago awarding damages to a subject of an enemy country for expulsion from a labour union has further complicated matters. Recently the Musicians' Union forwarded a letter to the Prime Minister on the subject, and it was expected that a reply would have been received in time for the meeting of the union which was held in the Druid 6' Hall yesterday. As it happens, Mr. Massey ha* not replied. The meeting yesterday was largely attended — evidently there- is a lively interest in the question at issue. In the course of the discussion it was pointed out that until guile recently there were four Germans m a local orchestra; in. one case the foreigner saved further worry among his confreres by leaving; th-p other three, however, Tetain their places. The meeting agreed that nothing could be done until a reply had been received from the Prime Minister, and it was decided to albw the matter to stand