CITY ORGANIST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1932, Page 8

CITY ORGANIST

INQUIRY TO BE HELD

COMMITTEE, SET UP

The City Council last night discussed the proposal that the services of the City Organist, Mr. Bernard ]?. Page, should be dispensed with. A special committee was set up to inquire fully into the possibilities of improving the position and making the recitals more attractive.

Councillor Duncan said that Mr. Page was engaged nineteen years ago. He had proved himself a failure to the City Council as an. organist. He had been well-paid for working eighty-five hours a year, while the collections at': the door^ were infinitesimal.; Even after these points had been raised, the organist had gone on in just the same way. He was assured that, £100, was an ex> cessivf amount for tuning an organ. In Auckland musicians .were paid £5-5s each as a .retaining fee, and &2 2s per performance. He understood that they filled the Auckland Town Hall. If Mr. Page were one of the six best organists in the 'world, it would be a kindness to'dischai^o him and give him his chance. Wellington was of no use' to Him. * '

Councillor J: McDonald thought that the City Organist should make his department pay. ' The Mayor (Mr; T. p. A. Hislop) said he agreed that the position required ;lobking into, and should not bo disposed' of without fuller inquiry. He moved: "That a committee be set up,. consisting o£ the Mayor, Councillors Duncan, Forßyth, and- Appleton; that they ask Messrs. Eobert Parker, H. Temple White, and P. Myers, as outside businoss 'men,* to co-o.perate with them;-that1 the committee be empowered to examine the functions of the Ci^y Organist, and report on methods to improve the public support to organ recitals, with power to amend programmes and generally improve the position.^ < ' COUNCIL ALSO TO BLAME! Councillor W. H. Bennett seconded the amendment. To his mind the council was to a large degree to blamo for the npn-succ*sS of the recitals: it had forced, Mr. Pago to give, Sunday evening recitals and at the same time permitted counter-atfractions. Councillor E. McKeen held that the organ was no, played in a way to make it attractive. Why should one man only play at the Town Hall? The amount Bpenl was excessive both for the player, for the upkeep. Councillor S. Holm suggested that a three months' trial under the Mayor's proposal should bo given. The past uinotoen years'had not been a credit to either the organist or the council. "Wo have been paying away too much money and getting little or nj return," said Councillor Semple. Mr. Pago had refused to make his recitals popular. A MONOPOLY FOR TOO, LONOI A monopoly had been given for too' long a time to Mr. Page, said Councillor Wallace. He thought that Mr. Page should be given notice. A visiting organist had been completely discouraged by Mr. Page, .who, it was said, did not Wish others to play in the Town Hall: '

Councillor"" Gaiidin supporteS the amendment, as some good : might come out of it. He doubted whether retainers and fees would result in great savings.. '.. '■-•■. ■ ■ ;■ -, - , .•••...-

Councillor; Meado'wcrbf t supported • tho motionj he thought the amendments unlikely to be fruitful. ' It'would be preferable -to engage: prominent .musicians 'from overseas, one concert by whom would pay the expenses. SERVICES APART FROM" - RECITALS. Councillor Chapman referred to the important functions at which Mr. Page was obliged to play Councillor Forsyth supported the amendment. ' :

Councillor, Huggins thought it would be better to pay the organist a standing feo of £100 and a fee for recitals. Councillor Bennett said ho was against the dismissal of the organist without giving him a further chance. The Mayor's proposal for the setting up of a committee was carried by 11 votes to 4, t/osc opposing being Councillors Duncan, Wallace, Meadowcroft, and McDonald.