MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9317, 18 August 1908, Page 2

MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

The City Council was engaged last night in a short discussion upon the subject of municipal music, and we are glad to see that an attempt made by the Mayor to reduce the number of open-air band concerts, on the ground that they were unduly expensive, was defeated by the broader-minded members of the Council. In matters of this sort the Mayor apparently has not a soul above road-metal, but as the whole cost of . employment of the five bands to play in various parts of the city during the summer months only amounts to £250, the ratepayers need not look with any very grave concern upon the expenditure. Only those who have taken the trouble to turn out to the band performances can realise what an immense amount of pleasure they give to hundreds of people, and if ever an expenditure upon a " luxury " was justified, that upon .municipal music has earned the distinction. The Council, by the way, has bravely faced the indignation of the Ministers' Association and other old-fashioned protest&nte by allowing a series of Sunday afternoon concerts id be given in the Gardens. In view of the Council's decision not to allow Sunday night concerts of a strictly sacred character to be given by some of the same bands as it has employed for its own purposes, this may appear to be a little bit illogical, but logic was never a strong feature of the Council's deliberations. Apparently it is the bogey of a collection box that makes Sunday night concerts wicked, whilst its absence purges the afternoon performances of all harm. However* the community can only be thankful that bigotry has not gone further, and that the Council has made some provision for Sunday music in ite summer programme. In good time we may look for ' an extension of this broader-mindedness in other directions. Incidentally last night the question of the city organ was touched upon, and we are glad, to see that Dr Bradehaw's position, so far as he himself is concerned, was thoroughly vindicated by the Council. Some of the more optimistic of the Councillors appear to consider that the municipal concerts will be money-makers upon a large scale, but if the experience of private givers of concerts is of any value, the Council will be fortunate if the concerts pay their way. A £20 profit on the organ week concerts is not a very promising return when it is remembered, that at the time of the concerts the organ was a novelty, and that everyone was anxious to hear it in its new home, but as against this the expenses attaching to the series were very much ' heavier than they are likely to be in tho. future, when local talent will be more largely exploited for the delectation of the people. The community has very much to be .thankful for at the arrangements which have been made for the supply of good music by the Council. A few years ago that the suggestion that it was part of the duty of a municipality to provide for the musical education of the people would have been laughed to scorn. The success of the experiment in Christchurch has, at any rate, fully justified it.