"LIGHT AND LEADING."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18048, 23 September 1920, Page 4

"LIGHT AND LEADING."

Thelie has been agreeable evidence of late that the Council of Otago University is quite disposed to interpret in as liberal a sense as possible its responsibilities as an educational body. Re ceutly, when the local School of Art was in extremis, and its salvation doubtful, the University Council showed at least a timely disposition to consider whether it could not become sponsor for the future of that valuable institution. At the council's meeting this week a proposal was brought forward by Dr Benham to the effect that steps be taken to inaugurate a course of instruction in music as part of the university curriculum. The proposal was well received, and a committee was appointed to give the matter consideration. Nothing" at all ambitious is proposed so far. For the course of study proposed by Dr Benham the appointment. of a lecturer would be necessary, but it is considered that the lectureship would be selfsupporting. An important feature of the proposal, as outlined, consists in the fact that the course of musical, instruction at the University would bo open to all who wished to take advantage of it, irrespective of matriculation, and that at a moderate fee.. This should go far towards rendering the coarse, •should it materialise, a popular one. The council could have no better justification for action in this direction than its effect -in making tho way easier for those who wish to study music, and in opening more widely the door leading to % attainment of a theoretical knowledge of tho subject. The proposal is an attractive one, and there is no apparent reason 1 why it should not be carried into practice. The test of the utility of such a lectureship would soon be supplied. Assurance is given that the calm of the academic precincts would not be disturbed by the brazen practising of cornets or other sonorous instruments. The time is not ripe for a fully accredited University Brass Band. Thdro is no telling what the future may bring forth, but no academic canons are outraged by' tho proposal to establish a lectureship in music. Nor do we see '

that the factor of university "specialisation'' need affect the issue. There is no real question of competition iu this matter with any other college. If it were a Conservatory of Music, the establishment of which was suggested, the argument in that connection might assume a different complexion. "It is to the universities wo must trust," observed Lord Burn ham recently at' Montreal, "for that light and leading, for that futuro which I feel is in store for the British Empire." Why not, therefore, a little academic light and leading in respect to musical education?