IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 27 March 1922, Page 4

IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLAND.

INTERVIEW WITH MR WILL HUTCHENS.

After a pleasant sojourn in the Old Country, Mr and Mrs Will Hutchens and family have returned to Hawera for a short visit, after having been absent for a year and seven months. In an interview with a Star reporter, Mr Hutchens said that while in England he found that industry and in fact every branch of art was undergoing a serious set back. He landed, in Southampton just as one of the big coal strikes commenced, and he was in England during that and another big strike. There was much unemployment, and referring to the unemployment dole, he said that whist it encouraged malingering, it also averted much hardship and prevented disorder. While Mr Hutchens was at Home there was a great slump in the theatrical world, and when he left 50 per cent, of those people were amongst the ranks of the unemployed. A system of sub-letting theatres, which resulted in the paying of large rents which, in some cases, ran into as much as £700 a week, was responsible for a lot trouble. Musical: circles were feeling the effects of an influx of European players, and although really inferior to the best British players, and even the average British players, these new-comers were nevertheless cut-rate men. The most enjoyable musical performance he attended was the Warriors' Day concert at the Queen's Hall. There were present the combined orchestras of the ; Queen's and the Albert Halls and the London Symphony Orchestra, making a> total of 17Q players—the piclr ot London. The conductors were Sir Henry Wood, Sir Langdon Ronald, and Hamilton Harty. Dame Clara Birtt sang "Land of Hone and Glory." When she came to the chorus, Sir Henry turned to the audience and everyone stood and sang. With such a singer such an accompaniment, 'and such a gathering, the effect was inspiring. During his stay in England, Mr Hutchens was associated with His Majesty's Theatre Orchestra, which was conducted by Mr Percy Fletcher, one of the foremost of the English composers. He was also associated with the Lyceum Orchestra when Sir Martin Harvey was playing "The Only Way," the Kennington and Aldwych Theatres' orchestras, and last but not least, the Wevmouth Municipal Orchestra.

Mr Hutchens was fourteen weeks with the Weymouth Municipal Orchestra, which was giving three concerts daily under Eldridge Newman, formerly conductor of the Fairburn Opera Company. He sang at various concerts around London and in the provinces, and frequently at the municipal concerts at Weymouth. He was also well received at the Beekenham Public Hall and the Bromney Central Hall. Alfred Hill's Maori songs were very popular. Speakof British composers generally, England coiild beat the world to-day for creative genius in musical composition. Vocally, he thought that Englond had not mad© any progress during the last ten years. Such men as Watkin Mills, Andrew Black and Edward Llloyd were missed. Ben Davies, however, was still a wonder. Amongst the lady singers, Kosina Buckman was certainly the most prominent. Asked by the reporter how his brother, Mr Frank Hutchens, had been received at Home, Mr Hutchens mentioned the resume of the reports of his first two recitals by the leading English} newspaper's, which have already been published in the Star. He added that his brother's final recital had made an even greater impression and was an "artistic triumph." Mr Hutchsns had seen Miss Ma:da Hooker frequently, and lie believed she was doing splendid work at the Royal College of Music. He saw her last as the train was pulling out of Waterloo station, and she sent her kindest regards to all Hawera friends. He had a splendid time socially as well as musically, and just before his brother left England they had an Australasian tea party at which the delicacies included New Zealand honey and passion, fruit, and of course New Sealand butter. Amongst those present were Mr Phillip Wilson, the Sydney tenor, Mr J. Coad, leading first violinist in the Verbrugghen Orchestra ana his wife. Judge Beeby's daughtev. and Miss Maida Hooker. The proprietress of the tea rooms was also a New Zealander.

On the return journey to New Zealand some, of the passengers went ashore at Pitcairn Island —the home of the muntineer crew of the' "Bounty." The weather was fine, but they experienced an exciting time shooting the breakers through a narrow opening in the rocks. The Islanders, who are similar in appearance to New Zealandhalf -castevS, were extremely pleased to see new faces, and loaded the visitors \yith gifts of fruit and curios. Some of the passengers took photographs which they intend to send to the Islanders. The inhabitants of Pitcairn, of which there were 165, are all of a very religious turn of mind, and carry their religion into practice by earning the name of being straightforward traders. A thing which made a big impression on Mr Hutchens was their part-singing in a hymn of farewell, which they sang as the steamer moved away from the island. Mr Hutchens' present movements are uncertain, but he intends to remain in New Zealand.

That motor cycle racing is on the advance every year was the opinion expressed by Mr. Arthur Spragg, treasurer of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union, speaking at a gathering on Saturday night of the New Plymouth Motor Cycle_Club. Mr. Spragg pointed out that since the last annual meeting of the union at Palmerston North four more clubs had been affiliated, namely, Feilding. Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), Hast_ ings, and Whakatane. There were 147 registered riders. Financially the union was just clearing expenses, their aim being to build up the riders' benevolent fund. The amount in hand for this object was £360, but he, for one, would not be satisfied till it reached a sum of, say, £2000. Then they might be able to reduce the levy on prize money, which was adopted as a basis for the fund. —News.

An interesting and quite significant little story was related to an Auckland Star reporter by an American visitor who departed on the Makura. Some months ago he was travelling to Japan, and when standing on deck by the Japanese captain, commented on a small island they were passing, which was cultivated right down to the water's edge. "It was only the size of your Queen street in length," he continued, "and I was amazed to think that they had even got corn there in the first place. It seemed so strange that what was formerly a barren Island was so transformed with cultivation, and I commented on the industry of the people to the captain, who for some time made no reply, and when I persisted, thinking he had not heard my remark, merely grunted, and with a shrug of his shoulders, said: 'No, not industry We want more land.' " The remark made a great impression on the hearer, and he remarked to the reporter that as Australasia's and America's problems were identical they should combine to combat a common menace.