MASSEY REPORT Symposium speakers attack - but fail to answer NAM IF SOME of those who partici- pated in the symposium - on. the Massey Report, held in the new Vancouver Art Gallery on Thurs- day last week, had read John Stewart’s article in the September issue of National Affairs Monthly more thoroughly their discussion might have had more point and direction. In particular, they might well have given some con- sideration to this paragraph: “Some - liberal ang left-wing eritics have already allowed them- selves to be taken in by the des- ire expressed in the Report to make Canadians ‘conscious of the best in our national life,’ as the terms of reference to the Com- mission read.” The article, written by John Stewart, secretary of the Labor- Progressive party’s national cul- tural commission, was brought into the discussion by the chair- man, Prof. Geoffrey Andrews, for the express purpose of attacking it. Andrews, who as assistant to Dr. Norman A. M. Mackenzie is generally credited with responsi- bility for policing the ideological lines of the University of British Columbia, made deprecatory re- ference to the article in compar- ing it to the favorable review of the Massey Report given by the London Times. Dr. Mackenzie, UBC president and a member of the Massey Commission, followed up And- rews’ remarks by professing his amazement at finding the com- mission’s report branded as an attempt to regiment the arts for war. “J don’t think there are any five less war-like individuals than the other four members of the com- mission and myself,” he observed. These referehces to the National Affairs Monthly article were significant not for what was said but for what was left unsaid. Andrews obviously was concern- ed with Stewart’s profound ex- amination of the commission’s recommendations and with the impact of his conclusions upon cultural circles here. And neither he nor Dr. Mackenzie made any serious attempts to answer Stew- art, Andrews dismissing the arti- cle with a sneer, Mackenzie with feigned amusement. OF THE OTHER speakers, E. S. Robinson, chief librarian, de- plored the lack of opportunity which compelled Canadian writ- ers, artists and others to go to the United States. He also felt that exchange of librarians should not be limited to the United States but should be. ex- tended to other countries, Plead- ing for an extension of library services, he pointed to the fact that only ten percent of rural areas had library services which could be regarded in any way as satisfactory. Barbara Pentland, the noted Canadian composer, expressed her hope that the report would be handled with vision so that a new trained audience could be edu- eated in the schools and “the liv- ing arts brought right into the classroom.” She believed that the arts should be “vested in the people,” and one way this might be done, she suggested, was by making grants available to send concert series on the road. This would help to develop @ popular inter- est which could be self-perpetua- ting. Dorothy Somerset, who spoke for drama, also held that the arts should be taken to the peo- ple, and Earle Birney, the author and poet who represented litera- ture on the panel, entered a special plea for support of “little magazines.” He denounced “our import of American fiction and our export of Canadian writers.” Praise for the report was coupl- ed with the demand that some portion of the government’s bud- get surplus be devoted. to devel- oping Canadian art and culture generally in the remarks made by Fred A. Amess of the Vancouver School of Art. He urged particu- larly that financial assistance be given to such crafts as pottery and weaying. The conclusion of the sympos- ium was considerably at variance ‘ {vith the many pleas for taking the arts to the people. Discussion from the capacity audience was limited to a scant ten minutes, ‘mos of which was taken up by Senator Gray Turgeon, whose re- ‘<-marks ‘showed some knowledge of the subject, and Ralph Camp- ney, MP, whose remarks did not.—H.G. Abel Joe, shown here in his role of male lead tenor and dancer in Tzinquaw, heads the company of Cowichan Native Indians presenting the first Native In played in Victoria last year, Frank Morrison's musical dramatization of the legend of the and the Killer Whale was performed last week in New Westminster. ‘TZINQUAW’ PRESENTED IN ROYAL CITY JUST BACK FROM WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL BERLIN AUGUST 1951 Two Million Youth from 104 countries, including 50 Canadians were there in the greatest youth peace demonstration in history. Bring your friends to hear what really happened in Berlin. HEAR Sam Michnick leader Canadian delegates ~ PENDER AUDITORIUM Sunday, October 7, 8 p.m. Pageant - “Towards Singing Tomorrows” B.C. COMMITTEE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR YOUTH mmm 1 the generally competent cast dian opera. produced in North America. First T hunderbit d Native Indian players score with musical dramatization of legend THE ENTHUSIASM with which audiences in New West- minister last weekend received the Cowichan Indian Players in Tzinquaw, a musical dramatiza- tion of a Salish Indian legend, should have given Frank Mor- rison, the musical director, and ‘Cecil West, the producer; con- siderable satisfaction. While others, for the most part, have merely talked about reviv- ing the fast-dying Native Indian arts, they have done something. And in Tzinquaw they and their talented company of Native In- dian singers and dancers have a fine achievement. . Tzinquaw is the Cowichan ver- sion’ of a legend common to var- ious Coast Indians, the story of the battle between Tzinquaw, the Thunderbird, and’ Quannis, the Killer Whale. In simple fashion. the legend relates the tragedy that befell the Indians when the Killer Whale chased away the fish on which. they depended for food. Friendly Indians brought them food and helped them in their unavailing fight against the Kil- ler Whale, until at last they called upon the Thunderbird to destroy their enemy. Abel Joe, dance leader, tenor singer and was outstanding that brought this legend to life through Frank Morrison’s excel- lent musical dramatization. Marg- aret Rose Charlie, women’s dance leader, has a fine soprano voice, and fully deserved the ‘ praise she received. But the New West- minster performances were actu- ally stolen by one of the three talented children who contributed to the Victory Dance finale. Much credit is due to Frank Morrison» who took six years 10 win the cooperation of the Na tive Indians and transcribe the music for the piano. In this Te viewer’s opinion, however, th © musical dramatization wo uld have been still more effective if some of the singing, at least, ha! been in the Salish language 2? greater use had been made ® Native Indian musical inst{ru- ments.—M.M. Gardner writes convincing expose of Japanese treaty IN HIS PAMPHLET, The Jap- anese, Peace Treaty, which has just been published here, Ray Gardner has done a competent job of exposing the real purpose and significance of the document to which the representatives of 49 countries recently put their signatures at San Francisco. Gardner, who is now secretary of the B.C. Peace Council, has applied his skill as a newspape™ man to assemble his facts 2? weave them into a convincing’ record that should be read bY every progressive. The Japanese Peace Treaty ** obtainable, at 10 cents a copy at the People’s Cooperative Book- store, 337 West Pender, or thé B.C. Peace Council, Room 41, 144 West Hastings, here. * wt STANTON, MUNRO & DEAN Barristers - Solicitors - Notaries — SUITE 515° FORD BUILDING 193 E. HASTINGS (Corner Main & Hastings Sts.) MARINE 5746 : PACIFIC TRIBUNE — OCTOBER 5, 1951 — PAGE 10