COMPETITIONS OF VALUE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 66, 15 September 1917, Page 3

COMPETITIONS OF VALUE

"WHY SHOULDN'T WE SING? "

"Should competitions be held in war time?"' This was put to Mr. Harold Gregson by a Post representative today. He had returned from Dunedin, where he had acted as judge in the competitions, just concluded in that city. "Should they be held in war time? Why not?" replied Mr. Gregson with another question. "Of course, I am naturally an interested party," he went on; "but, admitting .that,, competitions- are now to be regarded ac part of our educational .system." 'Of their value in this respect' (if for no more than stimulating young people to do their bast) I have not any doubt—and'l have now intimate expert knowledge of competitions in K"ew Zealand. Ido not wish to stress the point, but at the Christchurch competitions, held last May, £220 was handed over to the Red Cross, after all expenses were paid. Tha young men of the Dominion are engaged in the most serious business that any man can be engaged in; but the young people are coming on all the time. Serious-' as the war is to everyone of us, yet, for the life of me, I can't see that any good purpose would 'be served by discontinuing our edcational efforts in any right direction. If the abandonment of competitions or of any form of entertainment would facilitate the progress of the war, why, abandon such, by all meansi. But would it? ;At the same time, is it wise for us to relinquish every_ kind of diversion that does not, and is not, permitted to impair our war efficiency? Is it not better (I throw out the hint) for ue to 'keep our peckers up^eo to speak? You know what Mr. Lloyd George said: 'Britain's blinds are not down, and why shouldn't we sing?' ' That's the idea."

"I have no hesitation, in saying that, from an educational point of view, competitions are a valuable auxiliary to the intellectual and artistic development of our young people. The war is not going to last for ever. 'Why shouldn't we sing?' Take Dunedin: The competitions just, over lasted fifteen days, and there were roughfy 1000 competitors. No prizes were given except the championships, scholarships, and a couple of silver medals. Only certificates were • given. The honour of place was regarded as sufficient reward. The competitions -were mainly local. Some remarkably clever children were brought out in both the vocal and instrumental classes, and the character-action work closely approximated professional musical comedy. It was most delightful. In fact, so successful was the children's work .that it is to be given in a* complete public performance. As -public entertainments the competitions were an unqualified success, judging by the' large attendances. "I think,.we should look forward to the time when peace shall be restored, and prepare for it now, so as to resume our pre-war^ attitude towards music and other arts. At any rate, we can do no manner of good by being melancholy, going into sackcloth, and sprinkling ourselves in ashes. Do you think so?".