GORGE ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 6

GORGE ROAD

DEBATING SOCIETY OPENED. The opening night of the Gorge Road Mutual Improvement, Literary and Debating Society was held last night at Gorge Road, and took the form of a musical entertainment. The chairman, Mr O. E. Neiderer, in his opening remarks said he would not take up their time, but would call upon Mr G. Reed’s Concert Party to entertain them. Before the second half of the programme was commenced Mr W. H. Jackson, secretary of the Society, briefly outlined the programme for the coming winter. He said that during the past two years they had stuck to debates, but they had found that debates did not appeal to all. The Society this year was altering its programme and was going to endeavour to give entertainment for all by interspersing the debates with musical and literary evenings. They had to depend upon themselves for their winter entertainment, and it was hoped by making the evenings more general, that the attendances would be larger. The small debates would provide members with an opportunity of addressing the meetings, and he hoped that they would do so. He then detailed the programme which called for fortnightly meetings. The chairman endorsed Mr Jackson’s remarks, and said they were out to provide better amusement this year. There was no reason why their membership should not reach 200 before the year closed. A good concert programme was given by the concert party, which was as follow: Misses Leete, Brokenshire, Messrs G. Reed, W. Aitcheson, and W. McNatty. At the conclusion of the programme a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the concert party for its assistance and the good programme provided, Mr P. Ryan saying they were greatly indebted to the party for coming from Invercargill on such a cold night.