Street Musicians.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 829, 1 August 1933, Page 6

Street Musicians.

Dear Sir,—Everybody seems very annoyed with the few street musicians we have, unfortunately*, in our city streets. Your correspondent, “ Proper Pride,” may find it very easy to feel sorry for the unemployed, and perhaps, too, it is easy for him to feel proper pride if he has a good job to go to. I wonder what it feels like to have to stand in a street and play* or sing “ travesties of national airs ” while heedless shoppers pass by, intent on bargain sales? I do not imagine these street musicians harm anyone much, and we are all aware that, in spite of all the money* we have contributed towards the relief of unemployment, that money is only a drop in the ocean of what is still needed; that while some unemployed seem to thrive fairly well, others seem to get nothing. However much these musicians worry the nerves of hard-working wage-earners, these same wage-earners might do well to think, “ There but for the grace of God stands Proper Pride” (for instance). "Proper Pride” is lucky to have travelled to England, and even into the Highlands—he evidently, will never need to sing in the streets. I am sorry the mendicants disgusted him so, but he should not let such things leave a permanently bad impression. To every* beggar in England there are dozens of beautiful things which might obliterate that bad impression. There are numerous things in New Zealand which disgust the visiting Englishman. I agree with “ Proper Pride ” that “it develops (sometimes) into a sordid exhibition,” but if we were to try to separate the sheep from the goats in every walk of life, I am quite sure- we should find there are many men earning (or receiving) a good wage who do not deserve it. In conclusion, I hope that our street musicians may soon be heard no more in their present roles, but will he working as hard as “ Proper Pride” does. Meanwhile, the spirit of this young counbeing a poor spirit at present. 1 say, “ live and let live.”—l am, etc., PITY,