THE TIDE TURNED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 16

THE TIDE TURNED

COMPETITION AFFAIRS

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL jSIEETING

:* A .decided ■ change fpr, v the better in the affairs of the.. Wellington Competitions Society was announced in the annual' report of the executive presented at; the meeting, held last evening.' A -credit balance resulted from the'-'year's operations, .aud this, it was stated, was a: matter for gratification, as.the past five years had shown a loss. The work at Vdi recent, .festival had been up to the usual.stajidard of escollence, and the., entries constituted another ■ record for the society, totalling '3105, made up as follows:■ Instrumental, 274; .'vocal, 616; oratory, 19; eloeutiou, 1533; and.dancing, (3G3. That the Competitions: were: regaining their popularity; with the public was shown by the increased attendances,, the, door takings being: £90 better than- last year. Three of.:, tlie evening' programmes , had been broad-east, and this iHnov.ation proved a sueeess, the .Broadcasting Company pay-ing'-'a subsidy, of-£37,lps.v Members 1 subscriptions had shown an , increase this..year, although-the 'fee was reduced "to T£'l'Ms. Thanks- were- expressed in the;repor.t.-.to" those-;who had gen.erbusly;.supported- tl'e.1 society for many yearsj and' also; ?t. tho teachers who had'loyaliy entered tiKir - pupils in such large numbers.-1 ' ■■ , ' Mr. W; P.'MacLaehlah; presided, and read the report, which was adopted, fogetlier with; the balance-sheet.■; Congratulations >on a: successful year were exten"3ed v "-.by" several present, including Mr. vH- A; Huggins, who said ho, thought Hhe ; crest of mechanical .effort' inehte-rtainmenthad been reached, and that -people were again beginning to appreciate human voices, singing and. dancing, and.'all those -things the society could give-them. - - Very ■' coniplimentary . remarks were also made on the-work: of the secretary (Mr. K. M'Lenhaii),:and special thanks Were expressed; to Mr. Byroii Brown for adjudicating without fee. . _, Executive; council members for the coming!.year were elected as follows:--Messrs; T. N. Baker, V. Evans, Barton Ginger, W. E. Howe, W. E. Mason, G. E. MacLachlan;;;G; W. Morgan, W.J; Mountjoy, 'C. E, Proctor, H. C. ; Tonks, Mr. T. N. Baker was elected president, Mr... Byron Brown. vice-president, and Mr. W. E. Fuller treasurer^ ', Mr. Baker,'on.taking the chair, called on Miss MaudeFarrant to present the gold badge of.the jsociety tr Mr. MacLachlan.ttie retirihg'president, and this ■she did amidst ; Mr. MacLaehlan-' has 'been, /connected' with the society since ' its -inception in '• Wellington. ■ •.-' ' ' ■'."• '.:-.' "■;' '.' ~' >■ Iq-outlining,possible iuno'vatioiis"for thenext'festivalj'Mr.-Bak'cr said it.was hoped to' have classes . for ballroom daneingj: and?: fretted -.instruments; also a champion..of champibus-class in elocu.tipn. ; .A •;.". scliolarship''. for■ dancing might'also .be, provided. ,''.'■■ ,■■ '