ROYAL MALE CHOIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 3

ROYAL MALE CHOIR

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS The fifty-ninth annual meeting of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir was held in the Somerset Lounge last night. The president (Mr J. A. Hopcraft) occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the chairman of committee (Mr F. W. Parker), who briefly reviewed the activities of the past year. Revenue for the Music Endowment Fund had amounted only to £2 16s 3d during the year, he said, but the committee had decided to make a start with the purchase of music from the income from this fund, and for the next concert the piece “ Liebestraum ” would be dedicated to the memory of a member, the late Mr Alan Mac Gibbon. The year had begun with a credit balance of £206, and concluded with approximately £154 in hand. The position was better than might appear, he added, but as the choir’s financial year now ended earlier than formerly, a donation of £25 which had been made by the City Council did not appear in this year’s balance sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr G. J. Errington, who stressed the need for an effort to obtain more subscriptions and more active members. The motion was carried. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr J. A. Hopcraft; vice-presidents—Sir Charles Statham, the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron), Messrs J. Sutherland Ross, Arthur Barnett, J. C. H. Somerville, G. J. Errington, J. McGeovge, A. H. Allen, J. Hope, A. Ibbotson, J. D. Cameron, J. G. Butler, W. L. Francis, Dr V. E. Galway, and Dr Vernon Griffiths; conductor, Mr Ernest Drake; deputy conductors— Messrs James Paterson, A. G. Fleming, J. Dixon; pianist, Mr A. H. Pettitt; hon. treasurer, Mr J. R. Bennett; librarian, Mr A. W. Romeril; assistant librarian, Mr D. Barrie; secretary, Mr E. Richardson; registrar, Mr G. J. Errington; overseas secretary, Mr J. G. Butler; auditors, Messrs T. F. Basire and G. G. Dunn; trustees —Messrs J. A. Hopcraft, G. J. Errington, and J. McGcorge; committee —Messrs E. C. S. Falconer, J. Dixon, F. W. Parker, R. Mitchell, and N. Ellis. A donation of £25 from Mr J. Hope to the Music Endowment Fund was acknowledged with musical honours. A vote of thanks for his past services was accorded Mr M. Poulter, who retired from the committee.

Following the business of the meeting, a short programme of musical items was provided by the members.