COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1925, Page 7

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is the report to.be presented to tlic annual meeting of the West Coast' Competitions Society, to be held this evening The’ fifteenth annual festival, which was held from 'the Ist-jtd’ the. 91 n, of September, 1924, provided a .record entry 'of 10'80: The high 'standard' attained. at previous festivals'was fully maintained in all sections. The judges for the festival: were Elocution—-Air J J F. Montague,- Aucklandoratory— Mr G. W. ■Rpsscll, Christchurch; muSicF-Mr Lawrence Waitkins; Wellington p literary—Mr Thos. Irvine, Hokitika. Each gave the’ utmost satis-faction-111= his. adjudications, and was most helpful and encouraging in his criticism/and interviews with competitors. The total receipts foF the • 1924 Festival, including the demonstration, concert, -and donations,. amounted to £330'5/8, • the expenditure including judges’ fees,'rent of hall,’ 'advertising, and accounts oiitsta'nding from previous- festivals, £3896/10, leaving a debiAbalance of £59 1/2 jo ‘carry forward. All accounts are paid, The fees paid to adjudicators were higher than previously,’ owing mainly’ to the difficulty of. getting those, who are available, to ■' disorganise their ■ ordinary duties without a commensurate fee. The Executive has.always realised the need for securing coinpetent. adjudicators in order that the high standard achieved by the Society Can be maintained unimpaired, by the useful constractive criticism available from adjudicators.’ This year the services of Mr and Mrs Farquhar Young as adjudicators have been secured. The. former has undertaken elocution and oratory, and the latter music. Both Air and Mrs Young have judged at previous festivals, with satisfaction to the Society and competitors. The Society tenders ; its sincere thanks to those supporters who • donated medals, trophies,' and cash - donations towards the Society’s last lystival. The need of generous support of friends of the Coinpetitions movement is growing more and''more acceptable, as whilst the expenses consequent on the festivals are showing an increase, the receipts give no indication of any increase of moment. The finances of the Society are carefully watched by the Executive, and every economy,•’observed. The Book of Words and .syllabus for the forthcoming festival, which is to be held from August 31 to September 7, is in the hands of the printers, and‘will be available in about ten davs’ time. Recently a. Federation -of New Zealand competitions societies was formed, and this society was invited to join. The objects of the Federation are to assist societies to secure competent judges, to set suitable tests, to secure uniform methods of marking, and to assist new societies in their establishment, etc. This society being different in its constitution to other kindred societies, the executive decided to postpone federating for the present. The executive regrets the intended removal of Air James Afclndoe, who has been the Society’s vice-president for the past three years, and also an ardent and successful competitor in the oratory section, besides having rendered invaluable assistance to the executive. The inembeis wish Mr and Mrs Alclndoc and thenfamily every 'future success and happiness. They also hope that Air AlcIndoe will continue his interest in the competitions in Invercargill.