ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 June 1927, Page 12

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

l;OR COMPETITIONS SOCIETY. REQUEST TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A suggestion that it donate an annual scholarship in connection with the Manawatu competitions was received at the monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon from the Competitions Society. “Our aims and objects,” stated the writers, “are probably well-known to you, but, briefly, they may be said to be the encouragement of the arts of public speaking, singing, instrumental playing and dancing. That the society is achieving these objects, we think is borne out by the result of our annual festivals. . . . The present scholarships are valued at £l2 12s and provide free tuition for one year in the subject for which they are presented.” On the reading of the letter, the president (Mr M. A. Eliott), while expressing sympathy with the objects of the society and his appreciation of the good work that was being done, thought that the chamber was hardly in a position to do as requested. “There is a further aspect of the matter,” he commented. “We are a business men’s body, and our object is to do all we can for the improvement of business facilities.” Mr R. A. Noedl added that the giving of a scholarship would create a precedent. “We are not a philanthropic institution,” observed Mr H. Catton. We are purely a business organisation.” The society, commented Mr M. H. Oram, when questioned, did not receive from the individual business people of Palmerston North the support it thought it should. Following further brief comment, it was decided to advice the society that the chamber, while fully recognising the value of the work being done, could not, owing to the state of its finances, accede to the request.