THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 70, 20 September 1927, Page 10

THE COMPETITIONS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—One would imagine that the slogan of the executive of the Wellington Musical Competitions Society would be "Honour where Honour is Due." However, an opportunity which presented itself on Saturday evening to practice such a" virtue was lost sight of. A competitor from Auckland secured more; championship points in the ladies' vocal section than the adjudged winner. Because, however, she was not actually "on stage" for the Beethoven section she was disqualified as the winner right at the eleventh hour, too^ even although she entered for this section, and was accepted, and her name appeared on the official programme. It is bad enough to lose a trophy when leading, haying given all the other competitors five points' start, securing 23 out of' a possible 39, and finally leading by two points from the nest competitor; Tiut when, after numerous requests to adjust the marks chart displayed for public interest, the executive fail to place one's true marks on the notice board, omitting to shove the result of the contralto, dramatic, and operatic section, one is forced to the 'conclusion that this body has, in my opinion^ made a mistake. In fairness to the competitor, the position should have been explained at the presentation of prizes cancert. Because the executive failed to do so, I am obliged to ventilate the position through your columns. It is not the losing of the championship »uedal' that counts, but under the circumstances, evea if one could not expect a ruling where the spirit of the law was in evidence, surely some mention might have' been made'o£ the true facts.—l am, etc.,

GEORGE H. PONDER.

[When this ietter was. submitted to the secretary of the Competitions Society (Mr. : G. W. Jenner) he. said that the position had been argued one evening last week, when the conditions were thoroughly explained. "Competitors are expected to make themselves acquainted with the conditions," he said. "The conditions regarding the championships clearly, lay down thnt competitors must appear in, not merely enter for, certain classes; As the lady mentioned did not appear on. the stage for the Beethoven solo, she.was thereby not eligible for the championship, however many points she gained in the other classes. Accordingly "... her marks were not placed on the championship board as she was not eligible for championship honours. Hers was not an-eleventh-hour disqualification: she was automatically disqualified from the 'start owing to her non-appearance. The competitions must be run under rules: if you onca start waiving rules in favour of one competitor, where are you to stop?'.'] ■'.

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