DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15105, 30 March 1911, Page 4

DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

The twentieth annual business meeting of members wne hold in the Art Gallery Hall last night. Tho president (Mr D. Stevenson) occupied the chair, and there were about 70 other members present. Tho President, in moving the adoption of tho report, said it was fairly aitisfactory. The meetings throughout tho year had boon very good. Ono thing in tho report that would coino as a eurprise was that they had lost 20 or 30 members-during the year, notwithstanding which they liad had more succecsfijl meetings than ever. They must try to recover their membership and inoreaso it. The two concerts—Halloween and .anniversary—wore well attended, especially the latter, which left a fair balance. In spito of that, however, tho funds had only increased by about £1. This (showed that the club was running tho monthly concerts at the very lowest cost. He hoped members would recognise that if, it had not. been for the two concerts they would have been sailing very close to tho wind. Mr J. B. Thomson seconded tho motion. A discussion tool;-place on tiio decreasing membership, and members were urged to take steps to approach likely members. Mr W. B. M'Ewan referred to the improvement the clioir had made uiKfcr Mr Paterson. After further discussion the report was adopted. Officers wore elected for the ensuing year as follow:—President, Mr \V. B. M'Ewan; vice-presidents, Messrs Jo'nn London and William Brown; treasurer, Mr James Wallace (re-elected); secretary, Mr .1. R. Fail-bairn (re-elected); committee— Messrs D. Stevenson, W. N. Riddcll, A. M'Milhn, A. Bain, 11. Henderson, R. Telfer, U. Auld, D. Patterson, \V. T. Wallace; auditor, Mr J. Brown.

Mr M'EwiM thanked tho club for electing him to tlio position of presidentMr Wallace (treasurer) moved—" That it bo a recommendation to the. incoming committee that it tako inlo consideration tho question of raising the subscription for tho year 1912-13. The income at present was too prccarioue, and tho committee could do nothing but givo 11 concerts during the y«ir. But the- club had higher aims than that; they should implant in the young colonial a love for good pootry and good prose, and above all for gocd Scottish poetry ami good Scottish prose. He would like that every member of the club should bo able to recite somo of Burns's poems, or say they had read all Sir Walter Scott's novete. These, ho thought, 'were the kloals they had,'and with such cramped finance as tno club possessed at present it was not possible to carry tlrom out.—Tho motion was discussed pro and con, and on being .put to a vote was carried. A vote, of thanks was accorded the rctiri'"jj president. Members of tho club rendered musical items and recitations during the. evening.