NO COMPETITIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 13027, 27 November 1936, Page 7

NO COMPETITIONS

. / W. ' •' propose© e es-umption NEXT YBAlt SUGGESTED CHANGE Of 1 VEN UE At at special .meeting- -of tile Gisborne Competitions- Society a motion was adopted as a recommendation to v the next annual meeting that the annual festival he resumed as from next ; year. A suggestion was also made for a change of venue to the City. Hall but no definite decision was reached. The president, Mr Mainland L. Foster, presided 'ait the meeting, and there were , also present Messrs F. R- Ball, D. L. Ferguson, P. Sim, C. W. Izod, 'F'. J. Rowley, C. J. Carrington .Wellby, Harvey Johns, J. E. Mercer, W. Jonasen, Les W. Anderson, and ©avid Lee. The president stated that the executive committed had considered the . matter of resuming the festivals, but had come to. the conclusion that the time was not ripe, the executive, being practically unanimous on this point. He reminded the meeting that the -festivals of recent years had shown recurring losses, which had eaten seriously into the capital and that, in the opinion of the executive, the remaining funds would nob finance a further unsatisfactory fixture. Mr P. Sim asked if the heavy rent demanded for the Opera House was not the main cause of the ’annual losses The president said' that was the main bone of contention. Continuing, ho said that the falling off of public support, in the opinion of the execuitvo, was due in ai great measure to the .fact that the same competitors were seen time after time and that moreover the adult classes had fallen off so badly that most of the competitors were juveniles. DISCOURAGEMENT OF ADULTS Mr Wellby- expressed the view that insufficient inducement had been offered to. bring in outside competitors of adult age, and further that th© adults had been discouraged to some extent by the practice of staging their classes at inconvenienthours—usually during meal-times.— when there were few spectators, and consequently little interest was main tamed in the main body of the adult

classes. Mr J. EL Mercer said lie could not understand why the society lmd been able to carry on its. fixtures through the slump ; up to the current year, and now had to suspend activities at a time when things were decidedly brighter. He moved that the society resume its festival as from 1937. FALLING-OFF! ALL, OVER N,Z. Mr Ball said that the experience in regard to public support seemed to be the same . everywhere in relation to organisations of a non-pro-prietary nature, and competitions bodies in all parts of New Zealand were suffering. Ho thought that unless better patronage from tile public, and more assistance from competitors was assured, the society should) not risk renewing its; activities. If the present nest-egg of the society was nursed until the railway was through, there would be a chance of opening up with a hope of success. PUBLIC TIRED' OF JUVENILES' Mr Wellby said that there were more new singers available now than ever. before, and at present he could secure a largo number of entries.. The public was tiring of juvenile

competitions, which were overshadow ing everything else. The adult classes had] been deleted 'one by one in recent years. He thought they should try to build up the festivals again, put on the best possible show for the public, so that the society would be in a strong position by centenary year. The president said that the falling off of adult entries had brought about the deletion of class--/? and if tiho juveniles were not catered! for i!i?re v-ould be nothing Jse to offer the public. Mr Ferguson supported the president, stating that no event had ever been deleted from the programme except through lack or support. PROPOSED CHANGE. TO CITY HA'LL z Mr Mercer suggested the use of the City Hall instead of the Opera House as being less expensive, aind instanced the experience of the Napier society, which held its festivals in recent years in halls loss commodious and less well-appointed ■ than the City Hall. The only way in which to test th» .support of the public was to hold a. festival. Mr Jonaseii revived his suggestion, made at last general meeting, that a canvass for new members should be undertaken. He said that the Poverty Bay Winter Show ancf other bodies had indicated how the public would respond to such a. canvass. After further discussion, Mr H. Johns seconded the motion moved by Mr Mercer. Mr Ball proposed an amendment, to the effect that the matter be held over until the annual general meeting in February next, when some results of the membership campaign would be available/ The amendment, which was / seconded by Mr Ferguson, wa.s defeated’. Mr Mercer then agreed to draft his. motion in* the form of a; recommendation to the annual general

meeting. It was then carried without dissent, and arrangements were made for a further. meeting at an early date to ■ organise the membership drive. ‘ f ' ;•

OPERA HOUSE RENT ABSOLUTE MINIMUM BASIS LACK OF INTEREST DUE EN--1 TIRELY TO PUBLIC LOSS LAST YEAR IF' THEATRE HAD BEEN FREE

Commenting, on the statement that the linaucial difficulties of the Society were largely due to the rent P a ”d for the Opera House, Mr It. J. Kemdge stated 1 that the rent charged the Cbmpetitions Society, covering day and evening sessions, was on an absolute minimum basis, the charge being considerably less than rental charges to any other local societies or organisations, and less than one-half the rental charged to travelling companies. Present rental iiicome from the Opera House Theatre, Mr Kerridgc stated, was barely sufficient to cover the cost of rates and insuranco payable on the building. He pointed out that tlie failure of .the Competitions Society in making a success of tho festivals was undoubtedly due to tho apparent lufcik! of interest by the Gisborne public, as over tho past five years the- total box-office receipts showed a very substantial decline each year, which accounted for the' continued loss. In support of this, Mr Kerridge stated that. the total gross receipts over the past five years were as follows :

The net loss incurred on the last festival was £IOO Is lOd, so. it was obvious, continued Mr Kerridgc, that had the theatre been made available to the society free, a net. loss would still have occurred. After all, the rent charged represented only approximately ‘2O per cent, of the total expenses, and in consequence it was unfair to attribute the failure of the society to show a reasonable profit, to the rent cost, as it would surely he more justifiable to attack some of the other items representing four-fifths of the expenses. “It iis surely well known that we at all times endeavour to assist local organisations, and this applies; equally' to the Gisborne Competitions Society”, concluded Mr Kerridge.

1931 £ . 768 1932 ... ... .. 633 1933 . 615 1934 . 569 1935 • . 484