N.Z. NATIONAL ANTHEM

Evening Post, Issue 113, 10 November 1930, Page 8

N.Z. NATIONAL ANTHEM

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I am afraid that your correspondent, J.W.8., is' slightly in error- regarding the origin of the so-called New Zealand National Anthem "God Defend New Zealand." It is true that Bracken wrote the words, evidently some time in 187S, but the composer who set it to music was John J. Woods, who, I think, belonged to Lawrence. The publishers were Hopwood and Crew, of New Bond street, London, and the first copies of the song readied New Zealand about the middle of 1878. Sir George Grey took a great interest in the song aud wished to 'obtain the original manuscript for his collection at Kawau. Whether he succeeded or not I do not know, but he persuaded Thomas H. Smith, of Auckland, to translate it into Maori.—l am, etc., GUY H. SCHOLEFIELD. General Assembly Library, Bth Nov. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln a letter in your issue of last Friday, J.W.B. draws attention to the song "God Defend New .Zealand," words by Thomas Bracken and music by Charles Begg, suggesting that it should be adopted as the New Zealand National Anthem, and that "I might be able to further its adoption. " The song is well known to me. lhe music was not composed by Charles Begg, but by John J. Woods; it was published by Messrs. Charles Begg' and Co., Ltd., who own the copyright. By their kind permission, it has been, included in our first official school song bbok, "The Dominion Song Book," issued, early this year, at the modest price of 3d per copy. This book has been placed on the requisition list, and all children of standard 111. and up may be required to purchase it for school use. ■ By dissemination through. the schools, therefore,- the song has now a real chance of becomipg a National Anthem in more than name. It is desirable that a National Anthem should really be taken to heart by the people who sing it; and time will show whether this particular song is preferred by teachers and children to the other New Zealand songs of a national character that are included in our book. There have been other settings oi uod Defend New Zealand," notably one by Robert Home; but the one referred to by J.W.B. is that by Woods.—l am, etc., E. DOUGLAS TAYLER, Supervisor of Musical Education. 10th November. ' .