DRAMA LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 7

DRAMA LEAGUE

WELLINGTON MEETING

The annual meeting of the Wellington area of the British Drama League, New Zealand branch, was held recently. . The chairman traversed the year's activities and referred to the loss of the services of Misses B. Page and N. Cooper, Canon D. J. Davies. and Messrs. Russell Reid and Evan S. Harrowell. the last-named having joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He thanked all these for services rendered in the cause of the drama in Wellington. In spite of the difficulties of reconstruction under the new constitution which granted complete autonomy to areas a successful festival and four social evenings, had been held during the year. Seventy-five individual members, fourteen affiliated groups, and two life members . had joined last year and he hoped for greater success during the 1940 season: ... .. '

Messrs. G. H. A. Swan" and A. S. Farquhar congratulated the Wellington area on its activities and the balance-sheet, which showed a balance of £35 2s 4d. "

The main discussion of the evening centred around the Centennial festival, which the British Drama League had agreed to organise on behalf of the National Centennial Music Committee. This will take the place of the usual British Drama Festival. It is the present intention to hold the elimination festival, the semi-final, and also the final in Wellington this year, and this will materially increase the work of the Wellington area, which will be responsible for the elimination festival and the semi-final. It is hoped to hold the final on or about July 25 when cash prizes of £50 for the best play and £20 for the second-best' play will be awarded. The competition is open to all, whatever their previous vocation may have been. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Chairman, Mr. A. C. Farquhar; hon. secretary, Mr. F. V. Sanderson; committee, Mesdames ■-.-. Bligh, Goulding, Ring, Misses M. Brien, D. Isaacs. D. Cunningham, L. Jourdain, Amy Kane, Messrs. P. W. Cousins, G. A. Jesson.

The meeting closed with a' special vote of thanks to the secretary for his work and to the chairman. ;