DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 14

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

PROGRAMME OF ECONOMY. DECISION OF ANNUAL MEETING. Because of the lean years that are being encountered, the Dunedin Choral Society has found it necessary to practice economy and embark upon a programme of re juvenation and reorganisation. At the annual meeting, held in the Bristol Chamber® on Tuesday evening, the present position of the society was reviewed and dis cussed, after which several changes were made in the cxistinu rules. The most important of these was an alteration to the rule which provides that the society shall give three concerts to its subscribers each year. It was decided to reduce this number to two and issue eight instead of 12 tickets in return for each subscription. This will enable the society to charge foi admission to any other concerts it may decide to give The meeting also decided to issue Choral Society debentures. The attendance at the meeting was a large one and the chair was taken by the President (Mr G. M. Thomson). In nfoving th e adoption of the annual report and balance sheet the Chairman said that the report and balance sheet represented many features worthy of comment by members. The financial position of the socity was not a good one, and the society had carried a heavy burden since the Exhibition year. Its carrying on was an expensive business—more so than was the case with other bodies—in view of the orchestra which had to be kept up and the costly soloists. The society wa s still hampered by having the chronic difficulty of a small and un° suitable building. He was glad to say that there was reason to believe that this difficulty would be wiped out in 15 months. At the opening of the new Town Hall, which he thought would take place at that time, the choir would render an account of itself not only to the public of Dunedin, but to the many visitors from other centres who would be present on that occasion. He would venture to say that the Choral Society was the only body in the communitv that could

undertake the full work in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall. It would doubtless co-operate with others, but it would form the nucleus of the movement. After the hall was opened the society would be on clover; until then it was on a very poor paddock. The speaker also commented upon the difference between the amount of the honorary subscriptions and that of the active subscriptions. It could be affirmed, he said, without fear of contradiction, that a number of people were availing. themselves of the tickets without paying their subscriptions. This state of affairs was a most improper one, hut the facts spoke for thcmselvr s, and the position was pretty well known to the committee. It was particularly unsatisfactory in view of the fact that the society’s concerts were the cheapest musical entertainments given in the city. Each ticket cost only Is 9d. Tie was very sorry that the report had contained the announcement of the resignation of Mr J. Coombs from the post of conductor. He had first become closely associated with Mr Coombs during the Exhibition of 1889-90, and throughout the years he had known him as a most considerate gentleman, who took a keen interest in his work. As a conductor he was “ there all the time,” but he did not lay himself out to be an instructor in choral work. Such an instructor- was needed, and the committee proposed to secure the services of a chorus instructor. The society was forunate in securing once again the services of Dr Galway as conductor, but it had been arranged that he would take the baton at concerts,-and on other occasions the choir would be trained and practised by the chorus, instructor. In conclusion, Mr Thomson paid tribute to the. services of the pianist.if Miss E. Hartley) and others who the society. . In seiaSfling the motion Mr G. H. Light foot (deputy chairman) said that at one time it appeared that the society would have to go out of existence, but the committee had faced the position, and could see its way to carry on. The indebtedness of the society had grown during the year, and accounts had to be met. To- meet these it was proposed to issue debentures of £5 and multiples of • that amount, repayable in five years, and members were urged to take Giese as freely as possible. He considered that, although the debentures did not carry interest, the society should show some definite recognition of the loans. Until the society had the use of the Town Hall it would pass through a difficult time, but he was sure that after a couple of seasons there the balance sheet would show a substantial credit. Th report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The office-bearers elected for the ensuing year were as follow :— Patron, the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson); vice-patron, the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner); president, Mr G. M. Thomson; vice-presidents— Lady Ferguson, Mrs W. Evans, Mrs R. Hudson, Mrs A. C. M'George, Lady C. E. Statham, Mrs W. Smith, Mrs E Wilkie, Sir Charles E. Statham, K. 8., Mr T,. K. Sidcy. M.P., Professor T. D. Adams, Mr A. Begg, Mr W. R. Brugh, Mr H. P. Desmoulins Mr Alfred Fels, Dr V. E. Galway, Mr M. S. Holmes Mr W. H. Mackenzie, Mr J. Sutherland Ross, C.M.G.. Mr W. L Logie, Mr T. C. Ross, Mr H. Renfrec, Mr W. E. C. Reidj Mr G. Stuart Thomson, Mr

D E. Theomin, Mr Max Scherek, Mr h. K. Wilkinson Mr G. H. Lightfoot, and Mr T. Ritchie; conductor, Dr Galway; leader of orchestra, Mr J. A. Wallace; pianist, Miss E. Hartley; committee— Messrs H. Coop, H. P. Desmoulins, T. Ritchie, G. H. Lightfoot, and H. Walker; lion, librarians, Messrs L. Adam, P. blackburn, and B. R. Nees (ordTTestra); hon auditor, Mr David Leslie; bon. solicitor, Mr W R. Brugh; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. Elsey. It was announced that the office of chorus master had not yet been filled, but a very suitable appointment was pending. ALTERATIONS IN RULES. Several of the altered rules of the society were placed before the meeting and ionnally adopted. Chief among these was a new rule providing that two instead of three concerts, besides the performance of The Messiah,” should be given each year free to subscribers. In introducing the motion to amend the existing rule on this point, the Chairman explained that it was not the intention of the comfittee to limit the number of concerts given each year to two. The new rule would simply mean that for any number of concerts above two everyone would pay for admission. This would mean that eight instead of 12 tickets would be issued to each subscriber everv year. J

Mr Lightfoot observed that the move would enable the standard of the concerts to be raised. He thought they would all agree that two good concerts were better than three indifferent performances. The rule was adopted.