THE COMPETITIONS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2613, 28 April 1937, Page 5

THE COMPETITIONS

FESTIVAL AT PAEROA PUBLIC SOCIETY DESIRED ENTHUSIASM AT MEETING. Ther was an attendance of 18 in the Coronation Chambers last evening at a meeting, convened by the Mayor, Mr Wm. Marshall, to consider the formation of a competitions society. Apologies for absence were received from 12 others who notified their interest in the proposal and their willingness to assist, but it was felt that the meeting was not large enough to justify the taking of any definite step and, after discussion, a postponement was made to afford opportunity for a more representative expression of opinion. The Mayor explained that the meeting had been called at the request of the St. Andrew’s committee which had initiated the holding of competitions in the town and now felt, after two successful festivals, that it would be better for all concerned if control were taken over by a public society. He invited the Rev. R. J. Griffiths to outline the suggestions of his committee. Mr Griffiths stated that when the idea of a competitions festival first came before his church officers in 1935 it was decided to undertake the initial work, with the definite intention, if the venture proved successful, of handing over the organisation to a public body. At the end of that year it was felt, however, that the enterprise was still so much at an experimental stage that the St. Andrew’s committee determined to continue for another year. This second year had completely proved the value of such festivals and their assured success for a number of years, and had brought the organisation to a point on which the St. Andrew’s committee felt it could make no improvement. It had therefore no hesitation in handing over the enterprise now proved and established and likely to improve under the control of a more representative body. The church committee also asked the public to relieve it of control as the work, though interesting and rewarding, interfered too much with the work of the church.

The suggestion was that a society should be formed to be called the Paeroa Amateur Competitions Society; that the aim of the society should be to hold annually a competitions festival with the wider aim of increasing interest in music and poetry in the community, of encouraging diligent and exact performance and of discovering latent talent; that members of the society should be residents of Paeroa and surrounding districts who paid an annual subscription of 5s which would entitle them to free passes to all concerts of the society; that the work of the society should be carried out by an executive committee, elected annually and comprising president, vice-president, secretary and nine other members, the secretary to receive an honorarium fixed annually. All who were present at the meeting took part in an interesting discussion which followed. Enthusiasm was freely expressed concerning the value and interest of competitions festivals and it was generally agreed that local support for a public competitions society would be considerable. Difficulty was met, however, when it was endeavoured to find people for the key positions on an executive committee and it was eventually decided that a further opportunity should be given for a more general expression of opinion. The meeting was therefore adjourned to be called again for Tuesday, May 4.