THE MUSICAL WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 8, 9 July 1935, Page 17

THE MUSICAL WORLD

NEW ZEALAND'S PLACE

INFERIORITY COMPLEX

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, This Day.

The belief that if developed properly New Zealand musical talent is just as good as that of anywhere else, is held by Mr. Claude Chettleburgh, of Dunedin, who has been studying singing and drama under Richard Park and . Charles Tver, the celebrated New York ! teachers, for seven years. He holds I that this country and Australia have a decided inferiority complex regarding | their musical ability, and should at- j tempt to develop their talent, instead of feeling that other countries have much better to offer. "The Dominion leans too much on the outside world, and while it is necessary to go afield to widen our musical talents, we should learn to be self-reliant," he said.."There is a tendency to exclude our possibilities. I think it is vital to develop our own musical world." ROOSEVELT THE EIGHT MAN. Mr. Chettleburgh summarised America's present financial conditions by saying that in Mr. Roosevelt the United States had the right man in the right place. The people realised that he was out to straighten matters. He had the mass of the people behind him. Whereas before the depression they had voted as their grandfathers had done, they had since been forced to think for themselves and vote accordingly. When it was considered that only 10 per cent, of America's workers were organised since the depression, and that there had been wholesale slashing of prices, Mr. Roosevelt, with his N.R.A. scheme, was achieving something when he restored wages, shortened working hours, and fixed prices, thereby making conditions better for employers, who proposed to do the right thing and increase the spending power of the people. Very little had been done to alleviate the plight of the unemployed by organised relief on a national basis. Each State controlled its own system of relief.

"Since Prohibition was' repealed there has been much less drinking, and the liquor sold is of much superior quality," said Mr. Chettleburgh.