1921—CHAUTAUQUA

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1920, Page 5

1921 CHAUTAUQUA

MEETING OF GUARANTORS

Yesterday afternoon the guarantors who had already signed the contract in connection with the holding oi a. Chautauqua' in Grey mouth next year was held in the Borough Council Chambers. Mr. F. -A. Kitchingham was voted to the chair. A number of the guarantors in connection with the Chautaqua just held were also present and Mr. IT. C. Harley who had taken a prominent part in connection with such Chautauqua fully explained a number of matters relating to the contract. It was reported that 32 out of the 6U guarantors required had been obtained and Miss Smilie j the Chautauqua representative, agreed to allow the contract to remain in Greymouth until next Saturday to enable the remaining signatures to be obtained. Mr. J, F. Wilson undertook to canvas the town with a view to getting the signatures. A desultory discussion ensued as to the relative merits of marquee and half for the performances and ultimately the question was left over for further information and discussion by all of the guarantors v*hen the contract is completed, A number or the guarantors on the present contract expressed decided opinions that some relief should be given to the guarantors who had incurred loss in connection witu tbe Chautauqua just past and intimated tnat they ‘ personally were prepared to make contribution .for this pur-

pose. The -meeting was unanimous in its belief that next year the whole oS the 000 season tickets will easily be disposed of: at the same time it was recognised that the liability per guarantor should be kept as low as possible, and an effort will be made to obtain well over the required number of guarantors. If there were 60 guarantors the 'utmost liability would be £5 per head but if there were 100 guarantors the utmost liability , would be only <£3 per head, and if all the tickets were sold the would be no liability. Discussion also took place as to bow any liability under the guarantee should be borne. Under the recent guarantee guarantors who made no ettbi o o sell tickets shouldered no more of the loss than those who sold all of their tickets and' it was suggw.-fed that the guarantors should buy out-' right their share of , the tickets and ■make what arrangement they like as to disposing- of their tickets when obtained. This question however was also left over for determination when the full number of guarantors bad been obtained.

It was reported that the necessary number of guarantors had been obtained in Hokitika and it is hoped that Greymoutlx with twice the population of that town, will not lag behind and lose the chance of having a Chautaqua here next year.