CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 69

CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

UNIVERSITY SENATE DISCUSSION WELLINGTON, January 22.

In the Chancellor’ll address to the Senate on Saturday there appeared the following paragraph:—“ During the year communication has been held between our university office and the University of Melbourne in reference to the question of some agreement being come to in Australia regarding musical examinations. All the universities of the Australian Commc nwealth have come to an understanding, and it is thought that possibly our university might join. 1 expect that a representative from the Melbourne University may be able to be present in Wellington during the sitting of cur Senate. It so, the Music Committee will no doubt be able to confer with him, and see if any arrangement or understanding is possible.” When this paragraph was reached to-day the Chancellor explained that, unfortunately, the musical representative from the Melbourne Conservatorium (Mr Thompson) wc-uld not be here. It seemed useless getting people over from Australia under the existing circumstances. So far as the office could discover, the Government had not yet moved in the matter of'making a grant to the Auckland University College or assistance towards the establishment of a conservatorium of musio in that city.

Further enlightenment on the matter was eujipliecl by Mr G. Hog-ben, Inepectorgcneral The facts v. ere, so far as either the Auckland University College or the university itself had been communicated with, that a large sum was asked, and would have been requiredi for thuy purpose. The position taken up by the Government, he understood, or the evidence extant, was that it did not feel justified in moving in Ihe matter until the movement had been recognised by the university itself. Unless the university was disposed, and so intimated, to recognise the scheme, the Government was not prepared to pursue the matter further. The gum of money asked for was, he understood, a very large one. Under the circumstances, the Government was not prepared to undertake this expenditure. There had been no holding back on the part of the Government, but the scheme was looked upon as a rather large one.

Mr L. Cohen (Wanganui) pointed out the position of th e Auckland ‘School of Music, which conducted examinations and gave certificates. He also explained that Mr Thompson had come over from Australia under a misconception. The Commonwealth universities were anxious that New Zealand should be brought into line with Australia in respect of such institutions. He found when he arrived that the examinations conducted in connection with the Auckland University College did not satisfy the standard of the Commonwealth universities. He wnas them asked to outline the minimum standard for a dignified conesrv'atorium of musio. Mr Thompson, after inquiry, was of opinion that to found such a conservator;utn would bo so expensive as to involve a question of Government policy. He considered that the Government should bo very scrupulous in the granting of money for such an institution to have the distinction made clear between a ohair of music and a mere school of music It would bo just as well, added Mr Cohen, for them to postpone consideration of this matter. As things politically were it was said in the melting pot, and they did not know who might yet bo Minister of Education. Dr M‘Do>weJl (Auckland), in putting unother aspect of the case before the Senate, explained this belief that the Senate was in complete sympathy with the desire of Auckland University College to establish a oonservatorium. Tire amount asked for was between £2OOO and £3OOO for the first year, with a diminishing subsidy for successive years. It was hoped that in time the oonservatorium would be self-support-ing. They had no wish in Auckland to establish anything but a dignified conservatoriurn, and one which would have fiill recognition by the University Senate. After it was considered by the Senate he thought they should have a report from an export, and ho hoped that stops would bo taken, to have that report obtained. They wore ■\ory anxious to make a start in Auckland. For the first time the Choral Hall was at their disposal, and if anything wa® done it should he done at once. It was ultimately decided that the matter should he referred to a special Musical Committee, which would sir, during the present session.