NEW ZEALAND COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15954, 23 December 1913, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

UNABLE TO MEET CLAIMS. HEAVY DEFICIT. Mr J. M. Godd:s presided at a meeting >f the New Zealand Competitions Society '.oid in Wellington on Thursday (says the Dominion). The Secretary (Mr James Dykes) submitted a provisional balance eheet, which showed that the total receipts from all sources from the recent competitions held :n the Town Hall and Opera House were 61177 17s Id, whilst the expenditure totalled £1640 12s Bd, leaving a debit balance of £462 5s 7d. The only money ivailable to meet that deficiency was a sum af £42 8s 9d—the credit balance brought forward from last vcar. That etill left a deficiency of £420 6s lOd. The Secretary reported that he had received a letter from the City Council, in which it was stated that, in view oi the circumstances caused by tno strike, the council had decided to allow the society a rebate of £50 on the rent of the Town Hall (£254). Ho confessed to being somewhat disappointed at the maimer in which the City Council had met tbem, but, on interviewing the Mayor, the latter 6tated that the rent (less the rebate) would have to be paid. If it were not paid a court action would follow. Mr Dykes sard th,-,t prize-winners were only being paid 50 per cent of their money, that he was prepared to have £50 knocked off hie salary, and that Mr C. N. Baeyertz (the judge) had offered to reduco the amount of his emolument from £75 to £30. Somo surprise was expressed at the latter statement. Mr Eraser stated that he waa under theimpression that Mr Baeyertz had offered to judge for £75 if the competitions paid, and for nothine if they did not. Mr Levvcy was of opinion that the city did not want Mr Baeyertz to work for nothing. He did the work, and should bo paid for it. Tha Chairman remarked that Mr Baeyertz, in tho face of a straight-out offer of £50 from the 6ooiety, had preferred to make a bargain, and whatever the bargain was it should bo adhered to. After a number of suggestions had been made with a view to meeting the situation, Mr Primmer moved—" That the City Council be paid its rent in fnll (less the £50 rebate), also the officers and judges (with tho exception of Mr Baeyertz, whose caseremains in abeyance), and that the rest of the creditors bo asked to. accept 15s in the £1 in full settlement of their claims. {2) That no payments be made until tho consent of the whole of the creditors to the proposal bo obtained." Tins was seconded by Mr Levvey, and carried unanimously. As an accompaniment to tho resolution, the secretary was asked to convey to tha creditors an intimation that tho society would make an effort to meet all claims in full later on. ■ It was tacitly agreed that tho only alternative to this proposal would be for tho society to go into liquidation. SETTLEMENT ARRANGED. CREDITORS ACCEPT 12s IN THE POUND. (Peb United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, December 22. At a meeting of tho executive of the New Zealand Competitions Society, the financial position arising out of the failure of the recent competitions was discussed at length. It was reported that the creditors had agreed to accept 12s in the pound in settlement of all claims, and it was decided to pay accordingly.