JUVENILE PRODIGIES

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12008, 10 December 1924, Page 8

JUVENILE PRODIGIES

AT COMPETITIONS, NOT ENCOURAGED BY WELLING-! TON SO CUTTY. I Some interesting observations on the; year’s work of the Wellington Compe-T titions Society were made at the annual * meeting of the society last evening by!) the retiring president, Mr C. M. Bow-l! den. ■ ,,■ j The chairman said there had been: some grumbling, principally from the; South Island, about competitions, and] giving encouragement to infant prodigies, although it was a sporadic out-; burst. The executive felt that the com-, petitions provided healthy form of, amusement for the children, and that] their brhina were not overtaxed. 'lf itj was thought so, they would not continue}' to do it, but no harm came to them.» None, of them were anxious to encour-4 age infant prodigies, but. they could notj prevent them , competing, and would'] not encourage them unduly. It was al healthy exercise for the mind and ear, i and trained them in the beauties and? expression in art and music. i Gome criticism had been levelled at/, the length of the programme, but they; had to get the entries through. There) was difficulty; under which the-judges la- i boured in delivering their remarks be~\ fore Bomo of tbb public had to leave.] and these were no small part of . the ’ ■ educative'work , the society 'was carrying l on. They were trying to devise a sys-1 ] tern which would enable results to bo announced as the time went bn, and the’, matter would receive the attention of j 1 the executive. , ■■ . 1 REVIEW OF SECTIONS. | 1 The Maori section was of artistic ' 1 merit l ; and value by keeping alive the 1 traditions of one of the most noble races on the face of the earth. How far they ! would be justified in extending the sec-j tion remained to be seen. !* REDUCING CHORAL CLASSES. !] The school choirs did' not enter so j largely as expected, but they would in- j crease, and the competition would at- , tain a high level. The society placed ] no small reliance on the educative value of school singing, and had set aside £25 towards the salary of a teacher to teach music in State schools. . They were now < receiving support from teachers whose 1 support had hitherto been withheld. J Regarding the choral section, it hod 1 been disappointing, and with regard' to i the choir contest they would have to f withdraw it from the schedule, as well i as other classes. Large prizes were of- , 1 fered ; but the financial results had not 1 justified them in continuing certain ! 1 classes. 1 1 The society looked to the young jl people as the best medium throng b f which to carry on their work. Welling, * ton was a musical centre, and its people i appreciated music, art, and literature as 1 much as any other part of, tho Do- 1 minion.''' -J

Mr. E. Palliser expressed .the hqpi. that, the. executive would’ reconsider -the question. of-deleting the choral classes, which .wereofgreat value. • ,t ~f Mr J. W- Carr said the executive Would he prepared to reconsider the matter if it could be shown them that it would be worth while. Mr L. R. Partridge took the view that the society could not afford to run anything which was not a financial sue cess, and the executive would have to take it into consideration. The chairman said that the remarks would receive the committee’s consideration'. . . .