COMPETITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 4

COMPETITIONS

INVERCARGILL SOCIETY. ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the Invercargill Competitions Society to be presented at the annual meeting on Friday, November 5. The report states, inter alia— In presenting the annual report and statement of accounts for 1925-26, the executive is pleased to be able to report another successful season. At the time of the closing of entries, owing to the large decrease in the number as compared with the previous year, more especially in the vocal and elocutionary sections, the committee was in doubt as to whether it would be possible to carry on with the festival. A meeting was called to consider the position, when it was decided to postpone the closing date for another ten days, and thanks to the generous response of competitors, entries eventually totalled 1075 as against 1025 for 1925. Dr V. E. Galway, of Dunedin, who acted as judge of the vocal and instrumental sections, proved thoroughly well suited for the position. His genial manner, and sound criticisms, together with praise where merited, gained for him the confidence of both the competitors and the general public, and his remarks should do much towards raising the standard of music in this province. Mr A. Stanley Warwick, of Wellington, as elocutionary judge, showed himself as well qualified to act in this capacity, and his work is also deserving of the highest praise. This year there was a large increase in the number of dancing sections, and Mrs J. Smith, as judge of the fancy dancing, and Mr J. Macgregor as judge of the Highland dancing, have the sincere thanks of the society for the manner in which they carried out their duties. The thanks of the society are also due to the honorary judges, Messrs H. K. Sumpter, F. C. Lipscombe, R. Brownlie, A. Macdonald, F. R. Petrie and the Rev. J. L. Robinson for their generous assistance, which contributed in no small measure towards the success of the festival. Mrs A. E. H. Bath, as official accompaniste, Mr A. Sutherland as stage manager, and Mr J. E. Cuthill as secretary, also rendered excellent services for which they have the committee’s sincere thanks. This year the committee decided that an endeavour should be made to conduct the festival without any outside assistance, and it is gratifying to record that, notwithstanding a decrease of £63 10/6 in members’ subscriptions, £4B 16/6 in advertising, and £lO2 3/6 in donations, as compared with last year, the receipts and expenditure account shows a profit of £39 10/2 for the year. Nevertheless, the margin of profit on such a large undertaking is not very great and taking into account the fact that from all points of view the season was a highly successful one, it is evident that a careful watch must be kept on expenditure in order to ensure that no losses be incurred at future festivals, when conditions might not be so favourable. According to the constitution of the society it will be necessary to elect a president and a vice-president, while the following members of the executive retire, and are eligible for re-election—Messrs J. H. Watson, F. R. Petrie, R. M. Strang, G. Brown and P. Shaw. It will also be necessary to fill the position of Mr J. Lenihan, who has been transferred to Gore.