MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14900, 13 February 1914, Page 5

MUSICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Christchurch Musical Society held last night was but poorly attended by members. -Mr J. A. Frostick presided.

The annual report, already published, was presented.

Tho balance-sheet Bhowed :—Receipts £668 3s Gd, made up of concert takings £404 19s Gd, subscriptions £349 2s, and sundries £14 2s. The expenditure totalled £761 l&s Bd, the chief item, £693 l&s 4d, being expenses of concerts. The debit balance for tho year was consequently £93 15s 2d.

The assets were valued at £324 2s 6d, and the liabilities were put down at £273 4s lOd, leaving a surplus of £50 17s Bd.

Tho chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and haLanco-sheet, said that the Society was found during recent years to become more expensive to work. For many years the Society got what it wanted "in tho way of professional talent, gratuitously, b.ut it was not reasonable that that policy should oontrnne, and during the past lew years it had been necessary for-the Society to face an expenditure for talent which was unknown in years gone by. There was also the difficulty of obtaining instrumentalists and that of securing adequate accommodation for those attending the concerts. In Wellington and Auckland there were magnificent town halls capable of seating 3000 or more people, but Christchurcli was so situated that the largest hall provided accommodation to suit a membership not exceeding 400 on the present ticket privileges allowed by the Society. That fact made it difficult for the Society io add largely to the membership, as they couid not offer reasonable accommodation to all ticket holders. The committee were naturally disappointed with tho financial position, but that could not very well be avoided. It was felt that at all costs the standard of music should be raised, ,and rapid progress in that direction was made during last year. The experiment was made of having three public concerts during the sea-son, but thoso concerts had not involved a tax on tho funds of the Society. They had paid their way, and furthermore enabled a better class of talent to bo engagsd. The committee had been faced with unexpected difficulties during the year on account of resignations, but thoso had nothing to do with the york of the Society. Regarding the outlook for the coming year, Mr Frostick said that at least £650 was necessary for a season of five concerts. That could not bo done with a membership of 31G. To give three first-class concerts a membership of at least 400 was required. It was consequently decided to ask the performing members to forego their ticket privileges, so i that more ordinary members could bo taken in and to contribute a small annual fee to the funds of the Society. If that were agreed to, thon the Society could carry an; otherwise a substantial deficit would have to be faced. The Society towards the end of last season were, on account of the resignatione and other difficulties, in such a position that tho committee had seriously considered the rmestion of going into recess for a year. That would have been tho first break for sixty years, and all ho could say was that if the citizens of Christchnrch who professed to be musical, allowed the Society to lapse into that position, then they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

he said, wanted, roughly, £279 to have a clean sheet.

Mr A. Kflvc said the past year, from a performing point of view, had been an excellent one: if the Chrietchurch people did not appreciate the superior work presented that was their affair. Ifc was very unfortunate, however, thafc the year had not been a financial success. Mr Kayo referred appreciatively lo the action of Mr Biinz in coming forward to help the Society in timo of need, and expressed the hopo that eomo equally piiblic-vspirited man of competent capacity would come forward to take up the secretaryship. He thought that for the coming season tho people of Christchurch should not demand sn many outside- artists. There were plenty of good artists to be obtained locally, and they could be engaged on more economical terms than the big. artists obtained from elsewhere.

The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was then put and carried. RULE AMENDMENTS. Pursuant to noticp. Mr J. A. Flesher proposed an alteration to the subscription rule, Riving power to tho committee to determine the number of tickets members were to ho entitled to for their subscription of £1 Is. The motion was adopted. Another rule amendment was also proposed by Mr Flesher. to tho effect that the subscription and ticket privileges of performing members should be determined from time to timo by the committee, the subscription not to exceed 10s 6d.

-After some discussion, in which opposition was made to the proposal on the part of performing members, Mr Kayo proposed an amendment, that performing members'ehould pay a subscription of 10s M, and should receive a ticket for each concert.

The amendment was put and lost, and the, motion was carried.

Tlie following officers wero elected :— President, Mr J. A. Frostiek; vicepresidents, Bishop Julius and Messrs L. Bonnington, W. Izard, TV. Bevenish Meares, and "W. Roece; committee, Mrs Russell, Misses l>. Lezard. Shirtcliffe, and Mclntyre, and Messrs R. A. Home, P. L. HaJ]enetein ; J. A. Flesher, A. L. Parsons, H. A. Adley. -R. K. Ward, Buchanan, Poulton, Mnindonald, Smith, and Mazey; auditor, Mr W. H. Cheeseman.