TOURS BY ORCHESTRA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22593, 23 March 1948, Page 5

TOURS BY ORCHESTRA

SMALLER CENTRE’S NEEDS

PALMERSTON N. PROTEST (P.A.) PALMERSTON N., March 23. A request that an early opportunity should be taken to send the National Symphony Orchestra to Palmerston North and other provincial centres, and an emphatic protest regarding the arbitrary policy of the National Broadcasting Service in confining the performances of the orchestra and visiting celebrities mainly to the four principal cities, are to be forwarded to the director of the National Broadcasting Service, Mr. J. Shelley, by the Palmerston North City Council. Reference was made to promises held out during the formative stages of the orchestra that all sections of the. community would have an opportunity of benefiting by its establishment, but in the second year of the orchestra’s life Mr. Shelley had made a statement that it was fully booked up with engagements in the four main centres, although it was understood that a visit to Invercargill had been arranged. The orchestra was financed by the whole country, and the smaller centres did not enjoy the musical advantages of the main cities. . The practice of overseas artists under contract to the N. 8.5., or after their contracts were completed, of requiring large guarantees from musical societies in the lesser centres before agreeing to make an appearance was also condemned. Amateur musical societies were non-profit making, and in many cases were unable to meet the guarantees requested. This was an imposition not placed upon the residents of the four main cities.