COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 15

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Jubilee Festival Next Year

The Christchurch Competitions Society would provide better prizes and the best judges available for its golden jubilee festival next year, with the aim of attracting entries from all over New Zealand, said the president (Mr M. L- Smith), at the annual meeting of the society last evening. A prize of £25 had been given for the tap-dancing section. he said, and the judges were well known in New Zealand music and drama. The judges are: speech, Mrs Meryl Goodson (Wellington); vocal, Mr Harry Luscombe (Auckland); instrumental, Mr L. C. M. Saunders (Auckland); fancy dancing, Miss Da Katipa (Auckland); national dancing, Mrs Adeline Hobbs (Wellington). There had been no major drive for funds last year, but the financial position of the society was sound, said the treasurer (Mr C. H. Plimmer). "By keeping expenses to a minimum we have reduced the expenditure by £2OO from the previous year.” As the society had got on to its feet, membership had decreased. There were now only 106 members, he said. “With higher hall rentals next year we need all the support we can get.” The aim of the society was to stimulate increasingly high standards of attainment among competitors in cultural and artistic fields, said the retiring president (Mr H. Chaplin). “It provides a yardstick by which the children and their teachers can measure achievements. The society gives the young competitor a unique experience—the thrill of public performance and competition —to develop his talent,” he said. However, the future of the society would depend on the support given by parents and teachers. Without their support the society would die. Officers elected were: patron, Mr H. Cordery; president, Mr M. L. Smith; vicepresident, Mr L. A. Strong: treasurer, Mr C. H. Plimmer; secretary, Mr O. H. Louison; auditor, Mr A. J. O’Connell; executive, Messrs L. F. McMenamin, C. Harraway, C. C. E. Miller, F. Burrows, M. C. Wells, E. V. Wright, C. W. Bulk G. Johnson, B. L. Win, D. Sheppard, V. Wright, and A. Miller. A cup to be known as the Muriel Waugh Challenge Cup has been given by Miss Waugh. It may be won by a competitor (open class) in the Highland dancing section.