CHILD PERFORMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22209, 9 September 1935, Page 3

CHILD PERFORMERS

WORK IN COMPETITIONS BENEFICIAL EFFECTS CLAIMED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Saturday In a comment upon the attitude taken in Dunedin by the National Council of Women in regard to competitions, Mr. W. E. Fowler, of Bristol, England, who judged the instrumental classes at Wellington, said the arguments in favour of competitions were so overwhelming that they easily counter-balanced the one objection in some rare cases of highly-strung children. The attack on the movement was perfectly justified, but he could say after 30 years' experience of conducting musical festivals that the cases one met with were so rare as to be almost negligible. He did not think any parent with a nervous, highly-strung child would be so foolish as to enter it in competitions. Mr. Fowler was supported by Mr. Vernon Griffiths, of Dunedin, who judged the vocal sections. He said the general effect in normal cases must be beneficial. The benefits were derived not so much from the actual placings as from «the candidates being associated with others engaged in the same work.