‘Encouraging Response’ To Orchestra Appeal

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31973, 28 April 1969, Page 9

‘Encouraging Response’ To Orchestra Appeal

There had been a very enIcouraging response from subscribers to the Christchurch Civic Orchestra Foundation ito an appeal from the foundation’s president (Professor J. A. Ritchie), the secretarytreasurer o f the foundation (Mr A. W. Mann) announced on Friday. I Since the appeal was made I in a letter to subscribers last [week, the foundation had received a steady stream of subscriptions for the current year and. in addition. $985 in gifts. Included in the sum was $5OO from a subscribing member and $lOO from a Christchurch company, Mr Mann said. "Subscribing members and friends of the orchestra have obviously been heartened by the announcement early this week of the Christchurch City Council’s intention to increase its annual grant to 810.000 a year." Mr Mann said. There had been most favourable comment on the decision and the hope had been expressed that other local bodies in the Christchurch area would agree to financial support on a commensurate basis to that given by the City Council, he said. The foundation believed that with the support of Christchurch local bodies, the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, its own subscribers and friends of the [ orchestra, it would be able to present a very strong case to the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for an increase in its grant to ensure the survival and professional development of the orchestra. Mr Mann said. In his letter to subscribers, Professor Ritchie had said that no assurance could be given for a series of subscription concerts this year, or to offer further popular

concerts, unless the foundation received substantial financial assistance “If. instead of the $3OOO contributed in 1068. we as subscribers double this amount for 1969 on the lines suggested below, I believe our case, which is already embarrassingly convincing, tkould be unanswerable," Professor Ritchie said. “In recent days the foundation has received a number of donations from subscribers and other well-wishers. For these we are most grateful. To try and capture the spirit of this spontaneous move and to convert individual effort into corporate [action 1 suggest that we ail (g) pay our current subscription on trust and in the knowledge that no assurance can be given in regard to concerts this year, and (b) add a donation of $3 or more per subscription to support further the total concept we are aiming at,” he said. The foundation would then have available $25,000 to 830.000 from local sources in addition to the N.Z.B.C. grant of $lO,OOO, he said. “Even if the Arts Council was to revert to its 1966 grant of $25,000 the foundation would be well on the way towards its objective," Professor Ritchie said. Egyptian Raid Repulsed ( (N.Z.P A -Beutcr —Copyright) TEL AVIV. April 25.1 Israeli troops killed six of' a party of Egyptian commandos who tried to land on the occupied east bank of the Suez Canal early today, according to a military announcement in Tel Aviv. [ The raid was the fourth of its kind in the last few days.