THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3259, 3 July 1911, Page 5

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THE TOUR

INTERVIEW WITH DR. HARRISS

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION ] CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. The members of the Sheffield Choir arrived to-day from Wellington, and were met by a fairly large crowd, at Lyttelton and by a very large crowd on the Christchurch railway station. Tlie lioses and hostesses of several members of the choir, chiefly comprised those who were present. The public reception takes place to-morrow afternoon. This afternoon, with the local choir, the Sheffield Choir had a rehearsal of “Elijah.’’ In the course of an interview Dr. Harriss dealt frankly with financial matters and l with the statement that the choir was being overworked. As to the financial aspect of affairs Dr. Harriss stated that the realisation of his scheme of ten years ago —to make the British Empire better known to the people of the British Isles, and to advertise the British dominions oversea in a manner which no government could afford—had cost him £15,000 of his own money, and not a penny of anyone else’s'.' All lie required was that the people of the oversea dominions should pay the way of the choir. Lord Stratlicona, who was greatly interested in the scheme, had offered Dr. Harriss a cheque for £IO,OOO, which he gratefully declined. He calculated 1 that the expenses of the present tour of the choir will cost £50,000, and that amount does not include sums spent in the initial stages of the movement. In respect to the choir’s visit to South Africa, he expected a deficit, of £3OOO, owing to the smallness of the halls. Even in Canada, where halls accommodate from six _ to eight thousand people, the previous twelve days’ visit of the choir resulted in a loss of something like £BOO. As to the billeting of members of tlie choir Dr. Harriss stated that it was voluntarily offered. To have asked for it to be done would have been far too delicate a matter for him to suggest. As to the choir being overworked, he explained that a recent matinee was not included in the original plan, and involved the choir travelling there on Friday. The brief periods spent by the choir in different places was due to the fact that members of the choir were unable to devote a greater period' than six months and two weeks to the tour, and lie was attempting to do the best possible in the circumstances. Dr. Harriss, who with the Sheffield Choir, was on the sea on Coronation Day, despatched, on his arrival in Auckland. _ a telegram to thei King congratulating His Majesty and the Queen on behalf of the 10,000' choiristers and instrumentalists in Australasia associated with the choir in his festivals of the Empire on their Coronation. Dr. Harriss has received the following reply: “Buckingham Palace, June 29th, 1911. —I am commanded by the King to thank you and all who , join with you, for the loyal sentiments to which your telegram gave expression.—(Sir Arthur) Bigge.”