COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16661, 14 February 1925, Page 14

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the GisborneCompetitions Society was held last evening, there being present: Canon Packe (in the chair), Rev. L. H. Fenn, and Alessrs C. Blackburn, J. Ohrisp, \V. H. Irvine, C. Crawshaw, A. Stoneham, J. Albrecht, C. V. Harre, H. B. Gardner, and F. K. Ball. The statement of accounts showed a credit balance of £604 3s 7d, the profit on the year’s operation being about £lO6.

. The annual report was as follows: "In presenting the annual report ancl statements - of receipts and expenditure for the twelve months ending December 31, 1924, your committee have great pleasure in recording the continued progress and popularity of the Society. The receipts for the first time exceeded £IOOO, reaching a total of £1047 5s 4d, as compared with last year’s record of £954 Is lid. The expenses, unfortunately, in spite of careful management, were higher than formerly, reaching £942 0s 7d, as against £845 9s 7d last year. The increase in expenditure was mainly due to the increase in judges’ fees and expenses, and in printing and advertising. The surplus on the year’s working was £lO5 4s 9d and the Society is now in the satisfactory position of having a credit balance of £604 3s 7d. The sound position of the Society was largely due to the support of the Gisborne public, and it is gratifying to be able to report that with a membership of 260 there is not one outstanding subscription, while every advertisement in the book of words and in the programme has been paid for. The judges for the festival were: Mr; Paget Gale, Dunedin (music), Mr. T. Harris, Auckland (elocution), Miss Daphne Knight, Auckland (dancing), Mr. F. Price (drill), and Mr. J. S. Wauchop (literature), while Mrs. Maeandrew again acted as official accompaniste. The visiting judges were all impressed with the keen interest shown by the public and by the splendid 1 attendance at all sessions throughout the festival, and freely, .expressed the opinion that in no other town of the size of Gisborne were competition programmes arranged in such a varied and attractive manner. Your committee wish to extend their thanks to the honorary judges for their valued assistance and to"the teachers and supporters who, by their co-operation, contributed towards the success of the festival. Special thanks are also accorded to Mr. J. A. Nicol, honorary stage manager, to the press for the splendid daily reports, and to the ladies who so efficiently supplied morning and afternoon teas for tho judges, visiting competitors, and 1 members of the committee.’’

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that he was delightful to be associated' with an orgnifisation which was working to improve the standard) of music, elocution, and dancing of the community. The growth in revenue showed the increased popularity of the annual function and ho was glad to see that the competitions had the hearty support ot the -public. By bringing m the best judges in the respective sections, the society was conferring considerable benefits upon competitors. He wished to thank members for the support accorded during the year, and in doing so urged upon them the necessity for fostering the Society, and so improving the elocutionary, musical, and dancing

standards of the town. The election of officers resulted : President, Mr. J. A. Nicol; vice-presidents, Rev. L. 11. Fenn and Mr. G. Crawshaw; committee, Canon Pack and Messrs E. H. Mann, L, T. Barnard, V. Harre, E. J. Chrisp, W. H. Irvine, I. Mirfield, F. J. Rowley. A. H, Stoneham, C. Blackburn, F. R. Ball, J. A. Albrecht, and IT. 15. Gardner.