OPERATIC SOCIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 23 May 1934, Page 4

OPERATIC SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. Held in the Opera House last evening, Mr P. J. McDavitt presided over a largo gathering of members at the annual meeting of the Palmerston North Amateur Ojieratic Society. The report submitted by the retiring president (Mr B. J. Jacobs) read : —“lt is, of course, natural that the major portion of the annual report of such a society as ours should deal with th© work of the year which is its primary object, namely, its production of musical and dramatic works. On the dramatic side of the society we undertook the presentation of ‘The Best People.’ A very even and well selected cast under the able direction of Mr F. A. Cousins as producer and stage manager achieved another notable success in the history of the society. There is a large quantity of undoubted talent available from our members and with the large field for selection of production, not only can this be developed, but the popularity of the society will be much enhanced with our public which will be reflected in ou.r membership. The society’s thanks are indeed due to Mr Cousins for his continued interest in this direction, and it is to be hoped his services will again be available to the society during the next year. We offer him, too, our congratulations on the success achieved and thank all those who assisted him.

_ “On the operatic side the production chosen was ‘A Country Girl.’ While it is considered that the presentation of the opera was well up to the standard of previous efforts, it must be admitted that, financially, it was a disappointment. Possibly, the economic conditions affected tiie takings—posibly, the fact that we had undertaken this opera before had some effect. To the personnel of the society can in no way he attributed the result, for we can, I feel sure, say that at no stage of our history has it been better. The selection of a production is, however, very limited owing to so many operas being withdrawn from the list of those available. In addition to this, the cost of producing a musical work is still as high as ever. The first consideration for your new committee will be to take all these elements into consideration when deciding upon its operatic production in the new year. Nevertheless, most excellent results were achieved from the point of view of our being an operatic society which

is our chief aim. Unfortunately, the preservation of our now diminishing funds has to be considered. The numbers of those who helped in the , production itself were large, and while j it is sometimes invidious to pick spe-

cial ones out I think when jraying thanks to all of them some special mention should be made of Mrs Palmer, Mrs Cousins, and Mr McGrath. Mrs Hansel, in the joint position of secretary and treasurer, has proved her sterling worth to the society. All requirements of the two positions were carefully and cheerfully attended to. It is indeed a loss to the society that she finds herself unable to accept either of the positions again this year. No thanks could le too great to extend to Mjrs Hansel for her excellent services. Our thanks are due, too, to Mr E. Grant Sim for his continued services as hon. auditor, to the members of the orchestra who helped us, to Mr McLeod and the Opera House staff who extended so many courtesies, and to all those ladies and gentlemen and business firms who contributed so much to our productions. Lastly and specially, we, should express to Mr A. J. Graham and to Mrs Clift our deep thanks fo,r the time and patience expended by them in our operatic selection; to Mr Graham undoubtedly belongs all | the credit of the continued and regu-

lar activities of the society, while in Mrs Clift he has an enthusiastic and capable first assistant. I offer my personal thanks to the members of the society for their assistance in the control of its affairs. In this regard it is with regret that we have to record the death of Mr Freeman, an indefatigable worker for years on your committee.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follow: Patron, Mr C. Louisson; president, Mr A. J. Graham; vice-presidents, Mrs H. Palmer, Messrs J. P. McDavitt, C. McGrath, A. It. McKegg, E. G. Seeker and Major R. D. liardie; committee, Messrs A. J. Eising, H. Palmer, E. G. Spraggon, M. H. Oram, B. Clift, C. Rabone, J. IV. Jones and Miss Ulu Hancock; hon. auditor, Mr E. Grant Sim ; secretary, pro tem, Mr A. J. Eising; treasurer, pro tem, Mr J. P. McDavitt. LIFE MEMBERS APPOINTED. In proposing that recognition be paid to tho great service Mr Jacobs had rendered the society over a long period of years, the chairman stated that Mr Jacobs’s intimation that lie did not seek re-election to the executive had come in the nature of a bombshell. As an expression of the members appreciation he formally moved that Mr Jacobs be elected a life member of the society.

Mr F. Cousins, in seconding the motion, remarked that l'ew realised the time Mr Jacobs had devoted to the affairs of the society and the work he had accomplished on its behalf. “I am quite sure,” added the speaker, “that •when it becomes known that Mr Jacobs has relinquished office, the news will be received with general regret, particularly by the older members of the society, which, under liis able guidance, has become one of the best in the Dominion.” Tho motion was earned by acclamation.

Returning thanks for the honour, Mr Jacobs explained that lie had not required such an expression of goodwill from the members and lie assured them that he was punishing himself by the stand he had been compelled to take. Another vnlued member who did not seek appointment to the executive was Mrs A. E. Hansel, and she, also, was elected a life member, the chairman making eulogistic reference to her association with the society, remarking that she had undertaken difficult work but that she had come through with credit to herself and to the society. (Applause.) Mr Seeker endorsed the chairman’s remarks. The proposal was enthusiastically adopted. Mrs Hansel, returning thanks, said her association with the society, which dated back to 1920, had been a very happy one. Votes of thanks were accorded Mrs I Clift for her work in connection with the orchestra, and to Mr F. A. Cousins, the society’s able producer and stage manager. Speaking of Mr Cousins’s work, Mr Jacobs said that if there was one man to whom they owed the deepest thanks and appreciation, it was Mr Cousins. He added that few really knew the amount of work and responsibility that had fallen on his willing shoulders and few believed, when he set out, that he would achieve the success that he had with the various productions. Mr Cousins had never failed to give of his best and no one was more responsible than lie for the continued success of the society. (Applause.) , -