COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 9

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

’ ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the West Coast Competitions Society which will be submitted to the annual meeting is as follows:— “The Executive is pleased to report that the last annual festival which was held from August 27 to Septem-

ber 3, 1928, inclusive, was most successful. Again, the notable feature was the improved standard of work by competitors in both the elocutionary and musical sections, the judges expressing the opinion that the work presented by competitors was up to city standard, and equal to the best ■in the Dominion. There was a notable increase in the entry in the musical sections, and the general .increase in the entries in the juvenile sections was most encouraging. The marked improvement in standard was doubtless the result of the constructive and kindly criticism given by judges at previous festivals, and enabled competitors to correct their faults. The aim of the Executive has always been and will continue to be, the securing of judges of the highest standing, in order that competitors may have the benefit of their wide experience and profit by criticism. At last festival the Society had -the services of Mr Clement May, of Wellington, who was adjudicating for the first time in Greymouth, and assisted the competitors in the elocutionary sections by his interesting addresses after each session. Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., acted as judge in the oratorical sections with much acceptance, and gave very useful hints to those who appeared before him, especially stressing the importance of sincerity in public speaking. The (Society was fortunate in again securing the valued services of J\lr H. Temple White as judge in the musical sections. His advice, as on previous occasions when acting in a similar capacity in Greymouth, being most helpful. The Executive desires to record its appreciation of the able manner i;n which the

judges discharged their important duties. The Executive wishes once more to stress its desire to maintain the competitions on an educational basis, thereby continuing its policy as formulated in 1908. In this' matter it feels

that it has the support of the constituent clubs, the public, and competitors generally. The total receipts from all sources at ’last festival were £327 and the expenditure £360, leaving a deficit of £33. It is hoped with the support of the public of Greymouth to extinguish this deficit at the forthcoming festival. The Executive desires to record its thanks to those who donated trophies and cash prizes foi? last festival, all such stimulating interest as well as providing incentive for good performances. The Executive records once more, its appreciation of the excellent spirit which prevails amongst the competitors during the competitions, a feature which has been oftimes acclaimed by visiting competitors and which cannot be too keenly fostered. For the forthcoming festival, the Society will have the following judges: Elocution, Mr <W. Russell Wood, of Auckland; oratory,' Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., Greymouth; music, Dr. Chas. A. Jarman, of Launceston, Tasmania and looks forward with pleasure to their adjudicating. In conclusion, the Executive expresses its appreciation for the support generously accorded by the Greymouth public, and trusts that this will be fully maintained at the forthcoming festival.”