“TAP-DANCING A CRAZE”

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22678, 5 April 1939, Page 4

“TAP-DANCING A CRAZE”

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S

VIEW

SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL YEAR

Tap-dancing, which in the last few years has become increasingly popular. has had its effect on Highland dancing, and members of the Canterbury Caledonian Society at their annual meeting last evening showed some concern over the decline in the number of children prepared to learn the traditional Highland dances. In reviewing the society’s year, the president, Mr C. S. Thomas, said that the craze for tap-dancing, which set in a year or two ago, had been detrimental to Highland dancing. There was no doubt that tap-dancing was merely a craze, and that it would pass, but in the meantime the society should consider means of carrying the war into the enemy’s camp. Many mothers in the meantime preferred to see their children shuffling about the boards, but he felt that if the members of the society took appropriate action the craze would soon pass. A number of members suggested means by which the»popularity of Highland dancing could be restored, but no action was decided upon by the meeting. Financially, the society’s year had, as usual, been very satisfactory, said Mr Thomas. Expenses of painting and redecorating the hall had amounted to about £3OO, but there was still a profit on the year’s working of more than £3OO. It was a wonderful result, and was probably better than the result shown by any other similar society in the country. Membership was not as large as it should be, said Mr Thomas. More than 400 members were in the society at present, but that was not enough. He thought that there should be a wider appreciation of the amount of good that could be done by the society. An encouraging development was the greatly increased interest being shown in the society by officials and old boys of St. Andrew’s College. The annual report, which was adopted, stated that .the year had been most successful financially. The receipts and expenditure account showed a profit of £304. The benevolent fund was in credit £BO, and the sinking fund account £l6. Additions to the benevolent account were £7 10s and to the sinking fund £ll ss, and these amounts, added to the profit of £304, resulted in a credit of £322 for the year.

Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr C. S. Thomas; vice-presi-dents, Messrs B. Moore, A. E. Purse, R H. Rankin, and George Sey; directors, Messrs J. Berry. C. Campbell, I. Fraser, S’ Eraser, W. G. Foster, R. Gacie, D. C. Irvine, K. Kennedy, D. Malloch. J. A. Meikle, G. T. Henderson, R. W. Milne, F. O. Neate, A. Scott, and T J Whyte; honorary auditor, Mr J. Mawson Stewart; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. George Brass.