AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17571, 9 September 1920, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

INCREASING MEMBERSHIP.

EJECTION OP officers. The 39th annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts was held last evening, the president, Mr. H- E. VaUe, occupying the chair. There was a fairly good attendance. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president referred to the death of the late secretary, Mr. S. Stuart, after 25 years' service, just prior to the annual exhibition. He also made mention of other difficulties the' society had had to face during the year, including the resignation of the ex-president, Mr. Bart Kent. The general membership had increased in the 12 months under review by 50 per cant. The society had sold some £600 worth of pictures, which was about three times more than in the previous year. The coming year gave promise of better results, financially and otherwise. He hoped the membership would be further increased. He thought it would be a good idea in connection with the next exhibition to try to secure a small collection of Australian pictures. The society should encourage the painting of more pictures suitable fin* the public art gallery, said Mr. Vaile. Assuming that such pictures were available, he had been promised by two Auckland gentlemen that they would each purchase one next year for the permanent city collection. Ha trusted that other men of means would come forward with similar offers. He intended to approach the City Council with a request that it should purchase at least one such picture for the municipal art gallery. Tile election of officers resulted as fol-

lows :—President, Mr. H. E. Vafle; vicepresidents, Messrs. H. Brett, D. Goldie, E. E. Vaile, T. W. Leys, E. W. Payton, T. Peacock, J. H. Upton, Bart Kent, the Hons. A. M. Myers, and E. Mitchelson M.L.C-; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. J. A. Thomson; auditor, Mr. C. A. Stubbs; council, Messrs. N. A- Nathan, W. C. Leys, D. J. Payne, A. Geddes, F. Watson, G. H. Wilson, and R. Proctor.