“DISMISSED MUSICIANS”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 October 1929, Page 6

“DISMISSED MUSICIANS”

.To tlio Editor) Sir, —An article appearing in your Just evening's issue dealing with dismissed musicians who have been put out of action on account of the introduction of the talkies and suggesting that the Government subsidise the forming and maintaining municipal orchestras in the larger centres of the Dominion is absolutely an excellent idea. Considering our democratic United I’arty Government has £70,000.000 to distribute round somehow during the next ten years, so while the going is good 1 propose that several municipal orchestras be organised in all towns larger than Motuoka. and tba.t they shall be spread over different parts of the town to operate during the daytime so as to entertain (lie exhausted and overworked labourers and tradesmen during smoko with sweet melodies such as "Billy Boy.” 'Bye, Bye, Blade Bird,” "Hallelujah. I'm a Bum,” etc. What this country Editor, is’ more music, picture theatres, motor cars, race meetings, football matches, dancing halls, gramophones, wireless sets, etc. —-Putting it in a nutshell—more sport, and less work. Your correspondent goes on to explain that these dismissed pielure show musicians cannot he expected 10 do useful work, as their aesthetic make-up is far too dedicate and besides 11 might make them tired and spoil the shape of their hands. The writer also emphasises what these hetiefnelors have given to the world by way of musical education, and that, if (lie picture show musicians are not resurrected good music will die a. natural death. Oh. what a liagedy. .fust, imagine C'hopin. Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Wagner, and all the great composers forgotten, how pathetic. I.e| us all weep.—l. am etc.. G.U.C.