AUCKLAND ART SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 214, 8 September 1921, Page 8

AUCKLAND ART SOCIETY.

YEAR OF PROGRESS REPORTED. A report of artistic and financial success for the past year was presented at the annyal meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts last night held at the Arts Hall, in Kitchener Street, Mr. H. E. Vaile preeiding <Jver a meeting' of about 25 members. The statements presented showed that the credit balance of the working account had increased in the twelve months from £13 to £158, and that the annual exhibition had been most satisfactory in every way, the pieturee exhibited numbering 470. The membership had increased to 434, and the art union, thanks to the efforts of the Ladiee Committee, had exceeded previous such ventures. Over 3,000 people paid for admission to the exhibition, and pictures to the value of £067 had been sold. In congratulating the society on its progress, Air. Vaile (Jlie president) stated that the art union in connection with the exhibition had run to the record value of £268, but as this was one of the vital features of the society's assistance to artists the committee would not be satisfied until the enterprise regularly produced £300, which, he thought, was not an unreasonable amount to expect from art patrons. The chief reason for the eociety's existence was the encouragement of Xew Zealand artists and the development of a distinct New Zealand style, or school, of art. The eociety was indebted to the Mayor for assenting to a suggestion that the local art,, gallery should acquire each year one or more of the paintings exhibited by the eociety, and this year the City Council had purchased two for its gallery. Historical value and recognised distinction of style in addition to artistic merit, were special requirements of pictures for this purpose, and that limited the selection in this direction, but the eociety hoped to be able to further increase this avenue of recognition for artists. In reviewing the members and others who had rendered special service to the society's activities during the year, the president voiced recognition of the Mackelvie trustees' assistance by the loan of pictures obtained for their collection by Dr. T. \V. Leys. In regard to enlarging the scope of the eociety's work, he outlined the attractive suggestions of holding a sketch exhibition and an art and crafts exhibition in addition to the annual exhibition of paintings, but explained that attractions could not be undertaken until the current finances of the society were stronger. Appreciative reference was made to the services in the past of Mr. Benjamin and Mre. Payton, whose death had occurred eince last annual meeting. In reply to a question. Mr. Vaile stated that the committee would favourably consider a suggestion of encouraging young local students by offering I small prizes for meritorious subjects by them. The report and balance sheet were adopted, and the following officers were re-elected unopposed, Mr. Vaile stating hie intention of not standing next year for office:— President: Mr. H. E. Yailc; vicepresidents: Sir E. MHelielson, Dr. T. W. Leys, Hon. A. M. Mycre, Messrs. H. Brett. D. Goldie, B. Bent, E. W. Paytmi, T. Peacock, J. H. Upton; council: Messrs. W. Cecil Leys, R. Proctor, N. A. Nathan, D. J. Payne, F. Wilson, A. (ieddes; secretary and treasurer: Mr. W. J. Thomson; auditor: Mr. C. A. Stubbs. A number of amendments to the rules were considered by the meeting and adopted. The effect of the changes is to give the society power to make donations, to make the subscription a guinea, and to make more clastic the >rocedure prescribed in the matters of fixing the date of the annual meeting, electing members, and generally dealing with the eociety's business..