THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIVIII, Issue 17684, 20 January 1921, Page 8

THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

m . AN UNPAYABLE ENTERPRISE. It was announced In Sydney last week by the Minister for Education, Mr. Mutch, that the New South Wales Government had decided to provide the State Orchestra with the necessary money for expenses to enable it to carry out its engagements in New Zealand. After that, apparently, tho fate of the orchestra will depend upon the support which is forthcoming from the general public " The attitude of the Government toward the orchestra," said Mr. Mutch, '* is wholly dictated by the financial aspect of affairs to-day. While the Government realises that it is hardly possible for any orchestra of the kind to be continually successful without a subsidy, it is quite impossible to consider that aspect in view of the very pressing demands made upon the Treasurer for essential public services. " There does not appear to be in this State at the present time a sufficiently large number of people interested in orchestral music to ensure the financial success of this institution," he went on. " The deplorable fact is that the public taste is such that it will prefer to pay 10s or more to see revue rather than 5s 3s, or even 2s, to hear the best orchestral music that the Commonwealth can provide. As to the future of tho orchestra, it will depend to a large extent on public support."