THE COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 2

THE COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

A PUBLIC MEETING. ENTHUSIASTIC SPEECHES. DETAILS FULLY EXPLAINED. A public meeting, called !>y the com« miltce of the New Zealand Competitions Society, was held last evening in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. About fifty people were present. Mr. G, Shirtcliffo presided. Mr. Shirtcliffo apologised for the absenco of the Mayor—the result of another meeting at which his Worship had to preside. His Worship, hwever, fully sympathised with the movement. Proceeding, Mr. Shirtcliffe said that though. Uio attendance was small that evening, due, no doubt, to counter-attractions, great movements generally sprang from small beginnings, and he fully believed that when the work they were doing obtained better publicity, the support of the publio would uo enthusiastic. (Applause.) The people would realise the value- of the competitions in assisting to bring to the fore latent talent. At Ballarat the Competitions Society had a membership of 4000, and their festival had proved very successful from a financial point of new. In Wellington, with a larger population than Ballarat, and with an equal amount of talent available, quite as successful results should bo obtainable. Mr. Shirtcliffo further cited the success of competitions at Duuedin and Christchurch. The Schemo Explained, .Dr. Izard proposed to explain the scheme. So far in their work the society had had the assistance of Mr. Scott-Col-ville, of Auckland. It was proposed to hold the competitions from October 25 to November i (inclusive), with three session.? each day. The Town Hall and the Concert Hoom had been • engaged. The most attractive competitions ; would bo submitted in the evenings.''. Children would not appear in the, evenings', but special matinees would be held for thorn. (Applause.) There would also be physical drill for boy and girl scouts. It was necessary to appeal to the public, because of the heavy outlay—estimated at ,£9OO. The. rent of the hall would bo .£200; nnd .£223 would be allocated for prizes. In addition, medals would be required for the children, because tho society did not consider it right that tho junior competitors should bo offered cash prizes. (Applause.) In Auckland an upright grand piano and two shields had been donated by music firms, nnd tho City Council liml contributed <ESO. All the musical and elocutionary bodies, also, had lent assistance. For the Wellington competitions Messrs. Walker and Hall had offered a cup, and Begg and Co. a challenge shield. In order that necessary preliminaries could bo completed, tho society had already appointed judges, who would select the competition music, and elocutionary and literary subjects. Mr. Baeyertz (of Dunedin) was to judge vocal music, Mr. H. Gregson (Auckland) the instrumental music, and Mr. C. Wilson. (Parliamentary Librarian) the literary work. The music for tho vocal competitions was to be selected by Mr. Baoyertz, the instrumental music by Mr. Robert Parker, and the brass instrument uiusio by Lieutenant Herd. In tho vocal divisions, besides the usual solo tests, there would bo ' sight-reading competitions of various grades, and a grand church choir contest, tho prizo for which would be a ■£25 shield. Tho.pieces selected for the last-mentioned competition were "A Gladsome Light" (Sullivan) and "Lead, Kindly Light." In tho elocutionary division there would be a character sketch in costume, and a musical monologue, dramatio or pathetic- The range of competitions in the elocutionary contests was to bo very wide, including a prepared speech and a debate for literary societies, on "National Prohibition in .New Zpaland." Boy Scouts would have a chance to compete in first aid 'and-bridgo.building. Dr. Izard concluded by saying that all sections of tho community were appealed to, in order that the-utmost-success should attend their endeavour to bring Wellington to tho fore in the direction aimed at. A lltttle Jarring Noto, '; iThe.-EoT. E. O. Blamires, of the Central Mission, said that, a little opposition had come from a certain quarter, but he'was confident that, when the aims and objects of the society had been fully grasped, that opposition would entirely cease. The professional musicians would recognise that their apparently worst enemies were in reality their best friends. After all, tho opposition had been only a little jarring note; it was merely the preliminary tuniug of the violin, and the prelude to the exquisite, music that was to follow. (Applause.) He went on to argue that tho competitions would help to educate tho people- to a better appreciation of truo art. There was an undoubted place for such a society in tho community, nnd also for others of a kindred nature. (Applause.) Dr. Newman's Motion. Dr. Newman moved:—"That this meet, ing cordially γ-clcomcs the formation of tho New Zealand Competitions Society, and will do its best to make tho competitions a- complete success." When, children, ho said, left the schools, they had practically no interest taken in them. Tho present movement would give employment for a great many of them in the evenings in preparing for the competitions. The movement should have the support of everyone in' the community, becauso of its great educational value. (Applause.) The best of the competitors of a few years ago were only equal to tho worst nowadays, which surely showed one good result.' (Applause.) "All. that tho public have to do in this ease," said Dr. Newman, referring to the management, "is to press the button, and Secretary Dykes and Co. will do tho rest." (Laughter.) lie hoped tho competitions would continue every year, and that they would also be supplemented later with Dominion competitions. (Applause.) A Long-Wanted Movement. -Father Hickson seconded tho resolution. He said the society proposed to inaugurate a movement that had been lacking in [ Wellington for some time, 110 said (hero scorned to bo a great dearth of really good voices in New Zealand at present. It was not because tho talent , was lacking, but because tliero was not the opportunity. The society was not actuated with a desire' to make money, though in Ballarat a magnificent' hall had been erected out of two years' proceeds. They proposed to keep down l tho administrative expenses. Any proceeds (hey might have would go towards improving the contest in the future. Members of the society would each receive hvo tickets for the contests and would have the right to reserve, teats in advance. Mr. J. D. Sievwright said (hat neglect had been shown in tho absence of such a society in Wellington in (ho past. Mr. A. A. Corrigan also spoke a few encouraging words. Mr. J. M. Clark said that 400 subscribers nt one guinea would relievo (ho society of all financial responsibility. Tho motion was carried with enthusiasm. Professor Mackenzie moved a vote of thanks to the clinirman. In doing so he roferred to tho value of tests in the education of tho young—nothing but good could como of (ho competitions. It was very necessary to discover the natural endowments of (he young. (Applause.) The chairman said tho views expressed during tho evening would convince those present of the valuo of the worl tho society proposed to carry out.