COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 8

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Last night the annual meeting of the Dunedin. Competitions Society was held, and it was revealed that the financial position of this useful organisation was causing anxiety. This has happened before, and when the public were aroused to the urgency of the matter they rose to the occasion. It may be expected that the appeal that was made last evening will meet with a ready response. In the course of his remarks to the meeting, Mr E. J. Smith, who, with other citizens, has worked indefatigably in the interests of the society, said that in spite of tho most careful management there had been serious losses on each of the last two festivals. The conclusion drawn by the speaker was that if the present drift continued there would be no escaping the conviction that the society had outlived its usefulness. There can be no argument on this point, as was made clear by the comments of the chairman, who declared that the quality of the competitions, the number of entries, and the interest of competitors came well up to the standard of the last few years. That ought to be a sufficient answer to any suggestion that the society had ceased to fulfil a useful function. Thirtyseven years ago it began its operations, and it would bo impossible to assess in words its value to the community. The assets are to a large extent ” invisible,” but it must be obvious to everyone that the cumulative effect of the many festivals, with hundreds of competitors participating, must be highly beneficial to the cultural life of this province. Interest in music, literature, and the drama has been aroused in the young people, and we see this demonstrated to-day in tho work of the musical societies and the various bodies that devote their energies to dramatic representations.

Successive committees who have controlled the activities of the Competitions Society have done excellent work, and one reason for the success that has been achieved will be found in tho high standard of tho judges appointed for each festival. An old saying is that competition is tho life of trade, but the aphorism goes much deeper than that. In every branch of human endeavour competition induces the individual to concentrate on a particular task, and to make the most of the powers with which he has been endowed. From a purely practical point of view it is hoped the needs of the Competitions Society will appeal to teachers of music and elocution, and all others who arc interested in or are associated with the various educational bodies in our midst. To put the society on a sound financial footing a substantial increase in the list 'of its annual subscribers is necessary, and in a city like Dunedin, which has a high reputation for its support of objects bearing on tho cultural side of life, it should not be difficult. The new committee has shown courage in taking up tho work for the coming year, but no doubt its members aro fortified by the thought that in their arduous labour of love they will be able to rely on the help of their fellowcitizens. It can hardly be believed that an organisation which has rendered such conspicuous service to the community will be allowed to collapse for want of financial support.