TROOPS LACK MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 11

TROOPS LACK MUSIC

APPEAL FOR SCORES ANNUAL MEETING OF WOMEN MUSICIANS The annual meeting of the Society of Women Musicians was held on Monday last. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted, and the election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —President, Miss Meda Paine; vice-presidents—Mrs L. Beaumont, Misses Irene Barth, and Ruth Moore; secretary and treasurer, Miss Olive Barth; committee—Mrs O. Campbell, Mrs Scott, Misses M. Martin, M. M'Adam, .A. Sinclair, J. Armstrong, F. Sumner, and (R, Thomson. Mias Logie thanked the two retiring members of committee, Misses Bayley and ißattigan, for their services to the society. Miss Irene Barth thanked the retiring president, Mrs Campbell, and the retiring secretary and treasurer, Miss Meda Paine. Mrs Campbell, in replying, stressed particularly the need for providing, in the programmes for the forthcoming year, music that was new to members of the society, thus keeping their interest fresh and maintaining the enthusiasm. Muss Paine also mentioned the necessity for members to co-operate, helping the keep music among us as an inspiration and spiritual uplift under the shadow of war.

Miss I. Noble read an appeal from a member of the Middle East Forces, for sheet music, piano scores, or.parts of any music likely to appeal to concert party audiences in Egypt. These could be sent to Mr J. 'T. KirkBurnnand, Entertainment Officer, 2nd N.Z.E.F., Base, -Middle East Forces. Mr Kirk-Burnnand is trying to arrange for the forces to have some sort of entertainment, but it is quite impossible to buy any music in Cairo, and the situation is so bad that he has had 'to write out words and music from memory. Miss Noble appealed for members to send music, and hoped that

friends would also help. The letter mentioned that hardly any of the men ever hear a radio, and the number of pianos in camps could be counted on the fingers; few of the men ever hear the special broadcasts put on for their benefit. Under these circumstances, the entertainment organisers in Egypt deserve the highest praise, and anything that could bo done to help them should be done at once.

The society has adopted a ballot system for choosing members to perform at meetings, and a ballot was taken for members to arrange a programme for the annual party. Items were given—piano solo, ‘ Prelude (Gabriel Faure), (Miss Marie Tilleyshort; songs, ‘ Dainty Little Maiden ’ (Dunnill), ‘The Wind’ and ‘Cloud Shadows ’ ((Rogers), Miss Muriel Eagar; accompanist. Miss Joan Stewart. Miss M. M'Adam thanked the performers for their items.

A LETTER FROM LONDON [By -Melanie S- Pkimmek.] merry children. War or no war, we were determined, to keep Christmas as a happy holiday. Fortunately, and let'us hope it was deliberate, the Jerries kept off the special two or three days, so that the right sort of dinner was served in the right sort of way, except that turkeys were scarce (but as that meant goose instead, I, for one, didn’t grumble), poultry frightfully expensive, and puddings less rich than usual owing to fewer raisins, etc. But the spirit was there all right (more so than the spirits ou the puddings, I’m afraid), and even those whose homes had been shattered out of possible use decided to lorget as far as possible. So it came to pass that several grown-ups, who know the trials and tribulations of sleeping night after night in tunnels, formed themselves into a committee of ways and means and thereby gave the youngsters (for it was only for them the whole scheme was undertaken) something to remember in the future. Five hundred children were fed and entertained in one of London’s deepest shelters 1 From two to 14 was the age limit, and a sight it was to see these rows upon rows enjoying life to its utmost as clowns fooled, circus ponies performed, -and—real presents came down from trees. What a transformation, the tunnel now festooned with streamers and tinsel, a tree to hide the ambulance cupboard, tea urns in the sterilising rooms. Wardens and two nurses were the only adults allowed in, and a flue job they had. For this is what they distributed in food alone; 1,500 cakes and lewt slab cake, lewt jam, IJcwt sweets, 00 tins of fish paste, and 75 loaves. Nor let us forget the orange, apple, book, and crackers given to each child. So for once these “ regular tunnellers,” as they Dali themselves, came off extremely well, and* ally: mind you, paid by shelterers. and their friends. FOR GROWN-UPS, TOO.

The older generation:-—ls-year-olds ancT upwards—-dcided to have their own little junketing, too', 120,000 of them who regularly have'to turn out to turn in. The London Transport Board came 1 out good sportsmen, and with a smile tackled the problem of food by enlisting 1,000 women to help at 12(1 canteens and 71 stations in the underground. Trees were officially frowned on, but mysteriously appeared to gladden eyes and heart’s. At one station a local shop, keeper gaye 100 boxes of sweets—now almost an unheard-of luxury. From Poplar, one of the poorest and most-bombed areas of Loudon, many aged and decrepit had been sent to safety in Sussex. There, too, Christmas was remembered, with an added attraction in the' way of 10 soldiers to give an excellent programme. Later the u anld fowk ” took the floor and quavered forth oldtirne ditties, ‘ The Blind Ploughman,’ ‘ Love’s Old, Sweet Song.' It was a fine picture of a bygone age, for these old women had somehow to take with them their treasured dresses and best shawls, articles that through the years are wrapped in tissue-paper delicately scented with lavender. So Germany bias failed to break our spirits. STILL STRONG AND DEFIANT. If Hitler doubts our reactions to his disgusting destruction' of our historical loveliness, let him look down the columns of the daily papers. There will he see that theatre after theatre is re-, opening, giving day instead of night performances, that no less than nine important concerts are ahead of us, and that nearly all cultural institutions are quietly arranging their programmes for the next months -as though nothing had happened. But let these yarns speak for themselves:—

There were laughs among the danger and tragedy of the continued demolition of city buildings yesterday. One explosion in Falcon street, Aldersgate, set burglar alarms ringing. Forty Royal Engineers tried to pull down ruins in Newgate street with a rope

while singing the ‘ Song of the Volga Boatmen.’ The nope snapped and the soldiers fell in .a heap. On Sunday night a special constable was on duty in the city. Soon alter the sirens went he noticed an incendiary bomb on the Bank of England. Ho rang the bell. A perfectly attired flunkey opened the door. The constable said: “Ho you know that there is an incendiary on your roof?” “ I thank yon, sir,” he replied. Then, turning to A.R.P. workers in the background, he said : “ Gentlemen, there is an incendiary on the roof.” As he closed the door he politely dismissed the “ special ” with “ 1 thank you, sir.” PERSONAL ITEMS. Diplomas of fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons have been gained by Dr D. A. Arnott, Dr Bisset, Dr limes, and Dr Partou. Dr M'Cullough has now the diploma in anaesthetics as well as that of the Royal College of Physicians. Mr and Mrs J. C. Fox have been among the victims in recent raids, in that their home, in Surrey has been bombed. For the moment, therefore, they are living in Llanberis, North Wales. Mr Keed, who was a gardener with tho Imperial War Graves Commission in Prance, ' is now held a civilian prisoner of war at Vilid, Germany. He came over in the last war with the N.Z.E.F. . Mr J. H. Hall, New Zealand war correspondent, has recently spent a fortnight in the Highlands lecturing for the Ministry of Information on various aspects of the Empire in the war. In spite of war conditions, and these from a food point of view are likely to be a good deal worse in the future, happy reunions continue to take place, and, indeed, “ excuses ” are often hunted for. One of the best of. these gatherings was recently held to celebrate the 298th anniversary of Tasman’s sighting the South Island of New Zealand, to which came many New Zealanders. The High Commissioner is indefatigable in letting New Zealand be known, and in this case ho was able to do a special bit of publicity to tho Netherlands, for no less a personage than Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, husband of Princess Juliana, was present and later made a felicitous speech on the friendship of the two countries. A set of the latest New Zealand stamps was presented to H.R.H. Probably the most popular item in the interesting programme was the haka—or, rather, two—by the Maoris. Miss Kathleen MTverrow is now in Pitlochry, Scotland, having been forced out of her London home by Jerry’s bombs. Like all others who have suffered in the same way, Miss M’Kerrow is. more than ever determined to wipe put this scourge to civilisation. This being a sort of Christmas number, in that it is my first “ letter ” since the festival, it is becoming that I should tell you a little of the wonderful celebration at the New Zealand Forces Club, of which I have already written. Large contingents of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., as well as many’ New Zealand men serving in tho naval and air services came along,-till actually the number of diners (not all together, luckily) totalled up to 55U—some carving needed !” Turkeys, puddings, and,"certainly not least, tho tree 20ft high thoughtfully provided by the New Zealand Forestry unit (reputed to be thb biggest Christmas tree yet seen in London), beautifully decorated by Mrs Freybnrg, made the scene unique outwardly and inwardly. Father Christmas (otherwise Corporal H. W. Hughes) saw to it that everyone present had his share of gifts, these coming not only from homes, but also from the Women’s Voluntary Services, the Victoria League (Miss Drayton), the Hon. Mrs Leslie Gamage, the Overseas League Tobacco Fund, members of the War Office staff, Mr W. Strang, Mr Hackworth, and London Transport Board. Of course, there were speeches, and a fine programme was arranged by Miss Stella Murray, the singer. Special thanks were given those tireless ladies who keep the club, going day and night, and grateful acknowledgements fell to Mr and Mrs Lemon and members of the staff, to the inembers of the New Zealand Provost Corps and duty-men at the club, and to the 14 members of tho R.A.S.C. who brought our men from camp to club. Altogether an unforgettable day. Dunedin callers at New Zealand House include Tel. lan R. Forrester and L. 0. Beck, Petty Officer A. M. Finlayson, Private L. H. Frew, Naval Airman R. J. Spiers, Sergeant Hedge, Surgeon-lieutenant and Mrs A. G. Camming, Sergeant Gunners H. V. Allen and L. C- Curno, and Sergeant Pilot J. A. Maguire (Milton).