“LET'S ALL SING.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16735, 17 May 1922, Page 9

“LET'S ALL SING.”

first community effort. A HUCE SUCCESS. ! Community ringing, -which has proved so immensely popular in Wellington, win* re it was introduced about bix weeks ago, was commenced for the fit'st time in Christchurch at the Liberty Theatre, under most happy auspices. Many people had been inclined to treat the proposal as something in the nature of a .joke,, but once the proceedings commenced everyone was caught in the wave of infection and joined in the singing, simply because they could not help doing so. it was n joyous, happy throng that filled the theatre. This is our first community sing.” ! said Mr \V. J. Hunter, who occupied the chair. “ and I want to say that wo arc here solely in the interests of cheerfulness. If the Christchurch people take this movement up it will help them to keep cheerful, it will help them with their work and will benefit their health. Mr Albert Russell, of Wellington, has come down specially !to conduct our first sing. He gave | Wellington a good start off, and the J movement there has grown enormously." Mr Hunter added that lie had | read in the papers that there wore 4000 people at Wellington’s eommunity sing last week. Mr Russell was the i man to help the movement along in | Christchurch. “ I hope you will all ; hare a thoroughly good time, in fact, { T know ycru w-ill enjoy yourselves.” con- ' eluded Sir Hunter amidst further ap- ! pi a use. | Mr Russell said he had heard the | movement described as the latest craze, jHe did not mind it being called a j craze, bfit it was also a very sensible movement, because everyone took part in the work. He was there, like the motorman on the trnmrar to see that they went along allright and did not i got off the rails- Some people had j come merely out of curiosity and others perhaps with no intention of ringing All I can say to that,” said Mr Russell, “is that if you don’t- want to, sing wil < 1 horses won’t make you do it, hut I feel sure you will all join in. We are getting together with the idea ol getting infected with the cheer germ, because, as the good doctors say. singing brings contentment and happiness to people. We want that in Christchurch.” The song sheet contained the words of fourteen songs, all well-known to everybody or set to popular tunes. The first verse on the sheet was the \ National Anthem, and this was sung | with an enthusiasm seldom equalled in Christchurch. For the remainder of \ the programme the audience were al- ; lowed to ml down. *■ l don’t mind anyone going out ' while the singing is. on,” said the , conductor. “ I know many of you ' only have a limited amount of time to ! spare.” The second song was a parody on “The hong. Long Trail.’" and when the whole audience had finished singing it, Mr Russell complimented them ' on their effort. “ That was lovely : it was a lot liet-ter than Wellington's first sing.” he said. The conductor then asked the people on the right ol the theatre to sing the verse, then those on the left and finally “Let’s all sing it together once j more,” was the invitation. The audience joined in enthusiastically; every- i one appeared to be smiling happily ' and the infectious cheer germ seemed I to have taken charge of the building. ! “ Pack up Your Troubles in Your OKI ; Kit Bag” was the next song and the j invitation to sing was greeted with rounds of hand-clapping. The energy of the conductor in directing the singing was astounding. He had a way with him that was irresistible. After giving the ladies their turn with the song ho changed over to the men, aml then all sang once more. So it was right through the programme, from 12.30 till 1.45. All the time the audience was changing. Many had to . bo back at employment by* one o'clock , and then others arrived. The whole j of the proceedings were of a most informal character. Community sing ! ing should be as popular in Christchurch as it has become in Wellington and other places. All’s Russell, wife of tho conductor, presided at tho piano. A collection was taken up which realised £l4.