CHORAL SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1914, Page 9

CHORAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Royal Wellington Choral Society was held in. St. John's Schoolroom last night. There were about forty ladies and gentlemen present. Mr, A. S. Biss, vice-president, occupied the chair. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (the principal items of which have already appeared in The Post), referred to the loss sustained by the society through the departure of Mr. Maughan Barnett, but stated that Irhey had secured a competent successor in Mr. Christian Hellemann. Mr. M'Farlane seconded the motion, and expressed pleasure at the position the society was in. COMMITTEE'S ACTIONS TIONEDMr. J. R. Burley asked if the society was compensated for in Ihe arrangement made with Mr. Paul Dufault, and in the appeal made against the decision of the Lower Court in the action re Mr. Philip Newbury. He said that some musical people were under the impression that the appeal was a mistake. He questioned the wisdom, of individual members being called upon to pay the expenses of socials. Ho drew attention to the large amount spent in printing and advertising expenses- (£221 12s lid) for the concerts, that amount being about one-third of the total proceeds. He saw no need of scattering broadcast the photos of the principal I performers, which must 1 have entailed I a lot of expense. They all recognised the valuable services of the hon. secretary, Mr. W. E. Caldow, but he (the speaker) considered the committee's action illegal in voting him a bonus of £60 without referring it to the members at' a general meeting. He disclaimed any personal feeling in the matter, and recognised the valuable services j Mr. Caldow had rendered to the society. Mr._ R. T. Caldow stated that the committee came to terms with Mr. Shipman, manager for Paul Dufault, and every member of the society was circularised to make the concert a success. Regarding the appeal from the Lower Court in the decision given in the action brought by Philip- Newbury, that appeal did not cost the society anything. I The committee paid the expenses of the previous social out of their own pockets, but they felt that it was not much to ask those -who to the socials to pay a shilling. He doubted if the committee could legally vote money to defray the expenses of the social. The printing and advertising covered the cost of eight, not five, concerts, as Mr. Burley had stated, and that made a considerable difference. The committee felt it absolutely necessary to advertise. He did not' think the distribution of the circulars cost the society anything. Referring to the bonus given to the hon. secretary, Mr. Caldow said the committee felt that the secretary ougiit not to be asked to do such a large amount of work without getting a bonus, and the committee got ah alteration made in the rules to enable them to vote the bonus. LIFE MEMBERSHIPS. Mr. Alexander moved, "That the rules of the society be amended so as to permit the addition of the following words : 'That any member or subscriber of the society who has rendered good service to the society may be elected an honorary life member at the annual meeting by the majority of members present thereat.' " The motion, which was seconded by Mr. S. G. Hamei'ton, was opposed by Mr. Hueston, and on being put to the nveting was declared lost by two votes. Mr. Cutforth thought it was an improper thing for members of the chorus to applaud the soloists and accompanists. He had heard members of the audience frequently refer to it. The Chairman said that no doubt the committee would 'take the suggestion into consideration. Replying to Mr. Burley, Mr. R. T. Caldow said that it was hardly likely that the committee would bo able to take" the members of the society on a visit to Auckland at the present time. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected '.—. — Patrons, His Excellency the Governor, Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Sir Robert Stout ; president, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken ; vice-presidents, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Rev. Dr. Gibb. Hon. W. Fraser, M.P. t Hon. A. L. Herdman, M.P., Messrs. ,W. E. Bethune, A. S. Biss, A. H. Miles, and D. J. Nathan ; conductor, Mr. Christian Hellemann ; hon. solicitor, Mr. A. W. Blair ; hon. auditor, Mr. C D. Morpeth ; hon. accompanist, Mr, Frank S. Amsden 5 hon. 1 treasurer, Mr. W. PI. Chittey ; hon. secretary, Mr. ,W. E. Caldow ; assistant secretary, Mr. N. D. M'Leod ; hon. librarian, Mr. J. E. Perry ; committee, Messrs. R. T. Caldow, F. S. Pope, H. d. Hamerton, W. J. Hueston, and F. B. Young. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman.