FESTIVAL PLANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 8, 7 December 1935, Page 9

FESTIVAL PLANS

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

A general meeting of members, teachers, competitors and supporters of the Manawatu Competitions Society was held last evening, Mr E. G. Spraggon presiding in the absence of the president (Mr J. A. Nash), who wrote apologising for his inability to attend. Further apologies were received from Messrs Parr and Stubbs, the latter tendering his resignation owing to pressure of business. The chairman, in referring to the annual report, said that financially and artistically the festival held this year ;had been a success, and the support ' they had received from the public gave I the committee a strong inducement to launch out more ambitiously next year. llf they did so it would be necessary to 1 engage a larger hall than the Empire Hall. The balance-sheet showed a satisfactory position and the statement of accounts was adopted. 11l connection with those who had assisted the society during the year, the chairman said that it was difficult to single out any particular individuals, for so many had helped, but lie would mention the teachers and, in particular, Mr and Mrs J. Garde Grimshaw. The treasurer (Mr W. C. Loudon) and secretary (Mr K. G. Chamberlain) had also done fine work. The election of officers then proceeded, the following being appointed: — Patron, Mr A. E. Mansford; president, Mr J- A. Nash; vice-presidents, Mrs R. C. Bailey, Mrs W. J. Day, Misses Beryl Oakley, G. Gibbs, Eldred, J. Scott, Messrs A. J. Graham, J. Holmes Runnicies, ,J. G. Grimshaw, M. H. Oram, and C. F. Cronin; auditor, Mr G. G. Priest; lion, treasurer, Mr W. C. Loudon ; lion, secretary, Mr K. G. Chamberlain; committee, Mesdames F. W. Christian, W. Courts, Tarrant, F. G. Majo'r, and A. S. Cooper, Messrs A. E. Eising, It. C. Bailey, E, G. Spraggon, F. Hubbard, and D. Young. Arrangements for the festival next year were discussed, a suggestion being made that it be held in the Opera House, owing to the greater amount of space available. The difference in the rent compared with the hall used at the last festival was considered to be somewhat of a hurdle, but the general concensus of opinion was that this would be outweighed by the advantages gained. The chairman said that if the sum of £2O could be assured they would be able to engage the Opera House, the rent for which was £25, with extras. Suggestions were then considered for ways and means by which to raise the necessary finance, and it was finally decided that the secretary of the local Music Teachers’ Association be written to requesting the association’s co-oper-ation with the festival.

A motion that the secretaries of the Women’s Institutes in the district be written to asking for their co-opera-tion in the drama section was also carried.

After a general discussion, the chairman said that a difficult point was to secure suitable judges, and another- to obtain the interest of the schools in tho competitions. It was exceedingly difficult to gain the co-operation of the teachers. The weak points in competitions entries were the musical and vocal items. It would no doubt surprise his hearers to learn that at the last two festivals it had cost 2s 6d each to judge the musical items against the entry fee of Is. The judges, he considered, were hopelessly underpaid. One could not expect a judge to spend a week studying the programme drawn up for him, to travel many miles to attend the competitions and then go through the business of judging for a mere five guineas. Another difficulty about judging was to get judges equally competent to judge both national and fancy dancing. After a motion of thanks to the retiring officers, Mrs Ford, Rev. H. Whitby. James, and Messrs P. H. Parr and G. Rowe, had been carried, the newly-formed committee went into committee to discuss further details in connection with next year’s festival.