N.Z. CHORAL SOCIETY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 9

N.Z. CHORAL SOCIETY

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. A BOMINION AFFILIATION. A conference of the choral societies of New Zealand was held in the committee room, Town Hall, yesterday. Mr A. L. Wilson, president of the Wellington Choral Union, welcomed the delegates. The occasion was unique, he said, in that this was the first on which such a conference had been held in New Zealand. Some of the societies, however, had been in existence a long time; 1 be remembered having first beam! a per- 1 fformance of the "Creation” 50 years ago. On behalf of the Wellington Choral Union he extended to tho delegates a hearty welcome on I'oha.lf of the Wellington Society. Mr C. E. Webb was elected chairman for the conference, and in thanking the conference for the honour he hoped they would find their time well repaid. Mr W. 33. Oaldow was appointed secretary. AMUSEMENT TAX. The first business dealt with was the amusement lax, which it was felt pressed) heavily on amateur societies. In this connection Mr Caidow read an answer given by the Prime Minister. PURCHASE ANID HIKE OF MUSICSpeaking on the hire and purchase of music, Mrs Hudson (Auckland) suggested that each of the societies should order from England one work each year, to be the property of the society, but to be available for hire by other societies at reasonable fees. It was pointed out that the cost would be too great for each society. Mr Owen (Christchurch) suggested that each society should contribute something and. purchase some of the newer works, which It was impossible to obtain in New Zealand; these then might be passed round., Mr C. S. Compton (Masterton) suggested that the larger societies should purchase one or two works each year, which they could hire to the smaller societies, whereby they would be reimbursed' for that outlay. Mr Owen proposed that it be recommended that larger societies should vote .£2O or more out of the funds this year for’ the purchase of a new work. Mr Hud i son supported the motion. Mr Compton (Masterton) suggested 1 that the societies rhould publish a list of all the musio available for hire by tho societies in Now Zealand, then each society would know what was available and where it could be obtained. Mr Owen's recommendation was adopted. TRAVELLING MEMBERS. Mr Caidow brought up the matter of the. introduction of members of one society to i pother. Very often members went to another town and were lost sight of. He suggested that members leaving a town should bring a card from their socioty eo that they could become a member of the society in the town they are visiting. The suggestion was agreed to with the idea that a. form be drawn up which could be filled in and given to members when leaving a town. DOMINION AFFILIATION. ’ It was resolved, on. the motion of Mr Hudson, of Auckland, that there should be an affiliation af all the societies represented at the conference, with an affiliation fee of about .£3 3s from the larger societies and .£1 Is from the smaller societies not exceeding 100 performing members. Tho name adopted was the Associated Choral Societies of New Zealand. Wellington was chosen as the heme of tho association for the present. MUSIC RECIPROCITY. The question of musical reciprocity was brought up by Mr Lester, of Strati ford, who suggested that visits from some of the larger societies would be of very great assistance- to struggling societies in the smaller towns. Mr Owen suggested that societies should schedule their schemes for getting members, etc., and) make these available to the others, which would .be a great assistance to societies to help themselves. Mr Caidow stated that it would be advisable for all societies when fixing dates to notify one another whenever possible. Mr Hudson suggested that each society should send its dates to the secretary of the organisation in Wellington so that they may be adjusted if necessary. ENGAGEMENT OF SOLOISTS. The question of soloists was next brought up. Mr Caidow 6tated that if dates oould be fixed near enough together it would be oossible to engage a soloist from Australia perhaps. Mr' Hudson said that when the whole of the dates were known by the central executive they could suggest to various societies that an artist was available. Mr Desmoulins said that it was of great value to engage visiting artists as they stimulated the interest of the pub. lio in the society. It was decided that the engagements with visiting artists Should be arranged as far as possible through tho central executive, also that reports of concerts should be sent in to the central executive. MEMBERSHIP FEES, ETC. A lengthy discussion took place on the subject of membership subscriptions, prices charged for tickets and prices of halls, etc. Tickets in the four centres varied from 3s 6d to 6s. As regards performing members it was found that much discrepancy existed between the fees charged and privileges given. It was felt that spine co-ordina-tion would be advisable in this matter. The question of fees to the orchestra and fiee tickets was also brought up, and again it was found that different rules existed. With regard to the fees paid to conductors it was found that the fees paid varied very little with the larger societies. A central executive was formed', consisting of a representative from each of the four centres, Dunedin, Christchuroh, Wellington and Auckland. Messrs Owen, Desmoulins, Webb and Hudson were appointed to the executive.