CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10041, 8 January 1909, Page 4

CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

I (Pee Pbess Association.) Wellington,. January 7. In accordance witu the resolution of the New Zealand University Senate in January last Mr M. L. Coheil and the Rev. W. A. Evans -Waited on the Minister for Education to ask the Government to set apart a sum, of money for the establishment of a conservatorium in New Zealand. Mr G. Hogben, Inspector-Gene-ral of Schools, was also present: Mr Cohen said that both Sir Robert Sloul arid Mr Voll Haast had been prevented from attending through absence from Wellington, but that they were in sympathy with the project. The New Zealand University now received £4OOO per year from the Government, which it bestowed entirely on scholarships, and where it was prescribed by new matter of education it relied upon the affiliated colleges to provide the teaching. Amongst the degrees that it awarded was that of bachelor of music. The deputation were not there to say they had any scheme to submit to the Government. What they asked was some mode of encouragement that the establishment of a conservatorium was essential to the cultivation of musical art lii New Zealand. It was understood that Mr G. W. Russell had offered a site for the purpose. There was hope that Canterbury College might see its. way to come forward with a substantial vote for the establishment of »ome such school. The matter of locality was of no concern to him whatever. It might ha.v'e been said in criticism of the proposal that it came principally from teachers who had not had the advantage of the life and experiences of a conservatorium, or else statements were made in misconception of what was intended. In reply to a question from Mr Hogben, Mr Cohen said the cost of salaries per year would be about £4OOO, leaving out, of course, whatever income might be derived from fees. As he had previously stated the work of the conservatorium would be of little value unless it could do the examinations and possess men capable of conducting them. Some £4OOO went out of New Zealand every year to the Associated Board and Trinity College, and with a properly established conservatorium this money would give a financial basis to the project in the Dominion. In any case the entire matter of examinations was only incidental to the question at stake. The Minister of Education said he thought it wonld be a very desirable thing to have ah institution such as was sketched. At the 6ame time it was difficult to Bee what way the Government could come into it at the present stage. First of all, there was a considerable opposition to the proposals by those professional musicians of the Dominion who were represented by a pretty largely signed petition 6ent in some time ago. Of course that petition might have been signed under something of a misapprehension of the- scope and intention of the conservatorinm. The first essential, it seemed to him, would be to have a considerable amount of agreement amongst those specially interested in the proposal, and evidence of sincerity and willingness to do something for themselves. Take, for example, the dental school in New Zealand. He did not see that the Government could pronounce very definitely until they had a more concrete proposal put before them. He would have no hesitation in bringing the matter before his colleagues, but in the absence of any definite scheme he did not think they would get much further. If the movement took shape in such a way that a recognised body was willing to undertake some responsibility and financial interest, then the Government might be asked for some assistance in the way of an annual grant if the sum was not too large. The Government recognised that encouragement of the art of music was in the interest of the whole community, but before they could pronounce on the proposal a plan ought to be developed If that was done he would be very glad to have the matter considered. Personally he -was in sympathy with the idea. New Zealand was under peculiar circumstances in having its four centres so widely separated that a conservatorium established at any of them might not be to the advantage of students in the other three to the same extent, although the benefit would be diffused over the whole Dominion He could not say any more than that, if the scheme progressed and any responsible body was willing to take part and submit a proposal, then the Government, would consider and deal with it.