PUBLIC SPIRIT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 4

PUBLIC SPIRIT.

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL. ACTIVE SOCIETIES. The past two years have seen the formation of a number of public bodies and societies having for their object, either directly or indirectly, the benefit of the community as a whole and the advertisement of the town in other centres. Several ratepayers' associations have been formed, primarily for the purpose of encouraging interest in public affairs, of securing for the particular section of Timaru which each represents a fair share of the attention of the Borough Council, and of bringing under the notice of that body such works as the association concerned deems necessary for the improvement of its district; there came into being the Timaru Publicity Association, a body designed to undertake tho advertising of Timaru throughout the Dominion, and abroad, which did much useful work before being absorbed into a special committee of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce; a committee was formed amongst the Business community to inaugurate a Shopping Week festival and brought the venture to a very successful conclusion; and, not least in importance, the Timaru Competitions Society was launched upon what now promises.to be a life of great and increasing usefulness to the town.

Like most bodies of its kind, the society had at first to overcome the apathy with which the great majority of the public is too prone to regard such innovations. Although they had by no means an easy task, a few enthusiasts stuck to their guns and succeeded in arousing public interest; with so much accomplished, it was possible to appoint a strong committee and put in hand arrangements for the holding of competitions in music, elocution, and dancing, #iuch as have been held annuallv in the larger cities tor many years past. The work of organisation was naturally arduous, but to the credit of the promoters it was successfully carried through and .before long the schedule for the competition 3 was in the hands of the printer. The rest was more or less in the lap of the gods, but the large number of entries which soon began to be received testified to the attractiveness of the programme, and by the closing date the committee was' able to announce that approximately 500 intending competitors had sent in their names. On July 31st, 1925, the festival was opened, and the public response was gratifying indeed. From the first day until the final demonstration concert the keenest interest was taken in the competitions, and the support given the festival was such that at its close the Society was able to show a substantial credit balance. The standard of the work done by the competitor*, too, w*s excellent, and evoked very favourable comment from the judges. A Big Sue/rtss. From whatever angle the inaugural festival is viewed, its unqualified success is bevond question, and it is certain that the future of the Society is assured. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that every such body is dependent for its future development and the extension of its activities upon the measure of interest and support accorded it by the public; that the efforts of individual members, however zealous they mav be, are not alone sufficient to carry 'on the work of the Societv and extend its sphere of usefulness to the community. It is easily recognised that a competitions society d-jes much more than present a few talented amateurs with un opportunity of matching their rmigioal and elocutionary gilts against, those of others of more or Jess equal ability: the training necessary for the success of competitors brings them into close association with the works of great masters of music and oratory;_ it develops in them a love of literature and a deeper appreciatipn of art in its various forms; and sometimes it aiscnyers hitherto unrecognised talent. Timaru cannot place too high a valuation unon the services of its newest Society* or do better than accord its members their full support.