APPEAL FOR SUPPORT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7450, 26 May 1911, Page 1

APPEAL FOR SUPPORT

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY SCHEME INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC. A public meeting was held in Die Concert. Chamber of the Town Hall last night to introduce to tiro public the fcheino recently embarked upon for the holding of it competitions festival at tho end of October nest, Mr G. ShivtcliiTe presided in the absence of the Mayor. Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of the Mayor (Mr T. M. Wilforti) and Mr J. P. Luke, M.P. ' ’ Mr Sbirteliifo • said tho movement, which had originated with Dr Izard and others, would, ho fully believed, meet with every success when it materialised and was put. before the public. The scheme had his entire support. What had been done in other cities ought to be capable of achievement in Wellington. Ho instanced the city of Ballarat., where in a town with a population of 10.000 the society had ,a membership of 1000, and their * festivals had been so successful financially that in two years the society hart built, a hall and paid for it some ,£IO,OOO. In Dunedin and Auckland also competitions had been successfully instituted, and the movement ought to find support here. THE SCHEME EXPLAINED. Dr Izard spoke of the objects of the society, explaining the scheme in some detail, drawn up with the assistance of Mr Scott Colville, who bad made such a success of the Auckland festival. For the festival 1 both the concert chamber and tho big hall had boon leased from October 25th to November 4th. For the ten davs there would ho three sessions daily; this would, he necessary to carry out" the programme. The aim of the committee would be to submit the most attractive programme, and the three best performers iu each contest selected by the judge .during the day would bo asked to reappear in the evening. The society did not think it advisable that children should appear in the qjening, l and they pro-posed to hold a. special matinee,, perhaps two, ■ for ■ children. Competitions would be held in music, literature, elocution, drawing, and physical drill. There would be' contests 'also for boy .scouts, and-he could 1 see no reason why the girl scouts should not.-lie recognised similarly. .The - reason Achy the- appeal' was made to the public .was bn account of the heavy expenditure to which the committee had had to commit itself. To 'carry * out the programme" would involve' an outlay of some .£9OO. .This, no doubt, seemed a lot of money, but, two large items were £2OO for the rent of the halls and £223, .for prizes. ■; And. ho - was informed That, the amount offered for some of the prizes was too small. Thb' prizos for . ck*|h.eu : would “not ho cash, -but medals 1 ' and -certificates," the committee having decided that it would ;not be Well to encourage chiidryn ;to compete .for cash prizes." In’ Auckland several public spirited citizens had given handsome donations to the funds. One firm had presented an upright grand piano, and. two others silver-mounted shields. JNo doubt their good example’ would he followed iu Wellington, Already Messrs Walker and Hall had donated a . cup, and Messrs Bcgg and Co. a shield.. The Auckland City Council had made a grant of .£SO. and it was proposed to approach the Wellington. City Council. Appeal.for support would also be made to the Education Board,- to schoolmasters,"to literary societies, and to the defence authorities. Certain arrangements,, notably t*ie appointment of judges, and the choice of music .had been'-made already.* My C. N. Baeyertz would _ act as judge in elocution and vocal mnsio, Mr Harold Gregson, of .Auckland, in instrumental music, and Mr C. Wilson iu the literary .section- The- vocal - music would bo - selected by Mr Robert Parker, and the instrumental by Lieutenant, Herd. Last of all tho society appealed to the public to make their competitions worthy of the city. SUCCESS ASSURED. Tlio Rev. E. O. Blaraircs stated that the Ballarat Society sprang from a small church debating society. Ho was satisfied the competitions would-he backed by the people of tie churches of Wellington. The competitions would be successful in spite of-tho opposition already offered in some quarters.. The fear that the society might he a. menace to art in the city would no doubt lie taken duo note of. The competitions- .would not be abused, and would be the upliftmcnt of. the general public’s ideals of art. • ' Dr Newman moted “That' this mc-eting cordially welcomes the formation of the New Zealand Corapelitions Society and that all prvs'cmt pledge- themselves to use their personal endeavours to forward the scheme.” The scheme, ho said, had his warmest support. He had long been connected with educational bodies, and he had -been struck by the fact that ‘when, children, left school nothing or next to nothing was done for them.: This-scheme would help to occupy them profitably, and must do good. ' The Rev. Father 'Hickson seconded the motion. He remarked .upon-tho ambitious title of the society—not merely the Wellington ' but;' the New Zealand Competitions -Society—but tlio executive were/counting mainly on the* active cooperation of AVeliiiigfbnian.s. The scheme was not a money-making concern, as had been suggested by, some. The executive hoped to declare a profit, but they were not out to make money for themselves. They did not propose,- either,, to emend much money iu administration. Someofficials would hayo jo,be paid, but they would bo .limited, in number— .. ... .* Messrs J. D. Sievwright and A. A. Corrigan supported the motion. FOUR HUNDRED SUBSCRIBERS AT A GUINEA. Mr J. M. Clark, ‘in humorous vein, also made an appeal for, support for the festival.: .He hoped the establishing of the'competitions would be the beginning cf a movement which, would make Web lington the great art centre of New Zcaland. He had been met with the slatemeat that Wcllingtoniana were all shopkeepers, all out for wealth. Anr he pro-' ccedcd to show that the cotnuetilions hr attracting hugo crowds to tho city would ho good for the •shopkeepers.* What the executive wanted of the Poonle at the ineeting was that they should assist in the canvass for subscribers. Surely in a city of nearly 100,000 people it ought to he possible to get.4oo‘subscribers at a guinea, and that was all the executive wanted. The motion was carried linaniraously. IN ‘DEFENCE OF EXAMINATION , TESTS. . Professor Mackenzie, moving a vole of thanks to the. chairman and the speakers, said That, although it was fashionable nowaday? to decry ..competitions and examinations. the student who knew his work had everything to gain by-sub-mitting, it to test of examination or competition. If examiners did their work

rightly, let the sphere be, music, literatiue, art. or any other department of human endeavour nr interest, nothing but R-ood could crane cf examination or competition. It was of (.ho nlmVit p-ain to provide facilities for discovering tho talents ami the natural endowments of onr 'youth, and ho thought the competitions' were likely to afford eudi facilities.