The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1910. WHY IS WELLINGTON BEHIND?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1910. WHY IS WELLINGTON BEHIND?

Mr Clark, the excellent 'Wellington reciter, who hag lately been judging elocution at certain competitions held publicly in Auckland, returns to express his conviction that competitions of this nature are highly beneficial, and should be introduced in the capital city. With that opinion of Mr Clark’s we are inclined to agree quite as heartily as with the similar opinions we have had on the some subject from Mr Baeyertz. Such competitions as he praises are now annual events in Auckland, Christchurch, Dun edin, Invercargill, and several ot our larger provincial towns; and in no single case, bo far as we are able to discover, have they led to disappointment. Obviously, then, it is a thing singularly surprising that up to this time no competitions of the sort have been held in Wellington. It is the more surprising because, some short time ago, it was definitely announced that competitions would be held in the capital in or about October of this year. To that end, certain judges were, we believe, actually appointed. Word went to other parts of the Dominion that the first AVellington competitions would be held on a given date, and many intelligent young people to whom a special Inducement to visit the capital In spring was very welcome, expressed their intention of competing. But the competitions were not held. Nobody secans to know why they were not held. It has been roundly stated by one New Zealand publication that occupies itself somewhat closely with such matters that the idea was abandoned because certain unnamed Wellingtonians discovered that the contests would not yield ae much personal kudos or advertisement as had been hoped for.

That statement seems at a shade .ungenerous, and yet conjecture as to the reason of the abandonment is oddly beset by difficulties. Of the financial success of the undertaking there could bs no reasonable doubt. There was even a considerable body of evidence to prompt the expectation of profit. Further, Wellington is conspicuously the one city in New Zealand best adapted for the successful conduct of such events. It is, to start with, metropolitan: the city in which at all times tho tide of. civic enthusiasm runs most clear and strong. It is the seat of Government, and is a place peculiarly rich in such historical associations as we yet possess. It owns several spacious theatres and assemblyrooms, and by far Hie finest and most commodious public hall in Now Zealand. It is central. That'is a great matter. For an Aucklander to go to Dunedin to compete at tho annual contests there means the expenditure of considerable time and money, and entails a long and possibly tedious journey. Precisely the same conditions apply in the case ot a reciter or singer in Dunedin or.lnvercargill who might otherwise like to compete at Auckland, Nor is there, apart from the competitions, anything calculated to make the Aucklander especially desirous, of visiting Dunedin, or the Dunedinlte especially desirous of visiting Auckland. But Wellington is a oity within comparatively easy access of alp parts of the Dominion; and the secondary inducements are. numerous. Then, why wero the Wellington competitions abandoned ? Why is not some workable scheme for annual- competitions in Wellington taken up with the enthusiasm it merits? We don’t know. It is due of the mysteries.

Again, we are entirely at one with Mr Clark regarding what he holds to he tho beneficial influence of such competitions. Of the young people keenly interested it can never he said that they. are emptyheaded or fettered to the fetish of ath. letio professionalism. Indeed, it is easy to argne and to prove that any real interest in such contests is directly calculated to he of vital benefit to the nation. In a rather grossly materialistic ago the essential influence of such open rivalry is in the true sense spiritual. We need not labour the point unduly. Experience elsewhere has proved, as experience everywhere must prove, that in such striving to excel 1 there lies nothing but stimulus and a very desirable hope. These competitions impress upon young people at a tractable ago the true value and force of mind. It is well to care for the body: physical perfectness and stamina are excellent; but these things are not all. "In going about, you are careful not to step upon a nail or to twist your foot," says Epictetus,' in that blessed book of his. "Care thus also, lest you injure your lading faculty." Let it be said at once, lest any man should stumble, that we do not for a moment pretend that there is any great good to be gained by more elocution, as commonly practiced. It waa quite advisedly that we called Mr Clark an excellent reciter just now. ’ Ho is an excellent^reciter, in part, because ho is an excellent elocutionist; but a man may bo a finished . elocutionist. and remain a very poor reciter. The elocutionist reproduces (more or less); the reciter ; interprets, i These contests are good because, however imperfect they may be at; the outset, they do help notably towards a better popular interpretation of art and literature. The elocutionist learns to interpret better and to think more wisely; and in learning he educates the public, and insensibly raises the public standard of appreciation of art. ; Thus, Wellington competitions must , have a far wider and more permanent influence for good than (let iis say) a Wellington Municipal Orchestra can possibly have—much as we rej oico in the possibilities of good that a municipal orchestra indubitably presents. The faot is not sad, as some protend, bnt merely natural. The average man does not and cannot truly delight in good orchestral music, any more than he docs in the comedies of Aristophanes or the niceties of literary style. You must hear, before you can properly enjoj r : and the art of hearing music ia an art that necessitates study and an earnest striving along ways at tho outset thorny. It is sheer folly to call a man a philistine because he cannot immediately, enjoy jtho terrific surprises

of Wagner or the shattering subtleties of Strauss. Germans enjoy these composers, not because Germans are naturally more musical than we are, but because they are, from the musical standpoint, far better educated. True appreciation in this kind cometh only by prayer and lasting. A man must learn his tables before he can hope to grapple with the Differential Calculus. Such contests as we have been discussing are an extremely useful means of teaching the public its tables. The memorising of any fragment of good literature or good music is most wholesome for the man who stores his memory so: the reciting of any fragment of good literature or good music is admirable medicine for the hearer —even though at times the medicine may be a trifle unpleasant and tart. If the hdjudicators are capable and sincere men, they exercise a truly valuable discipline. It has been said that the art of reading aloud is to-day a lost art. .These contests will help towards its renaissance. Few men can read or recite verso well now—few even of those that make it. But already at the big competitions you may hear verse better recited than our pampered actors commonly recite it. It is a matter in regard to which Wellington should certainly do something without further delay.