COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 7

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. THE PROBLEM OF FINANCE. The annual meeting of the Invercargill Competitions Society was held on Thursday, Mr J. Robertson presiding over a fair attendance. The annual report stated: Since the inauguration of the society in 1905 the number of entries has steadily increased, and this year’s total of 1210 has been exceeded only on three occasions, in 1913 with 1555, 1914 with 1337, and 1924 with 1250. This year entries were evenly distributed throughout the various sections, thus enabling your executive to arrange interesting and varied programmes for each evening, and from an entertainment as well as an educational point of view, the festival was undoubtedly one of the most successful ever staged by the society. For the third year in succession it was decided to run the festival without outside assistance by way of donations, and it is with regret that your executive has to report a severe financial loss on the year's working. Theatre receipts totalled £476 12/6, as against. £564 last year, members’ subscriptions and season tickets £179 11/-, as against £206 6/6, and advertising in the official programme £6B 8/-, as against £9l 11/6, a total decrease of £137 6/6. As all other items show little variation when compared with the 1927 figures, and when it is remembered that last year’s working showed a loss of £34 3/10, it is obvious that the reduction in the amounts received by way of theatre takings, members’ subscriptions, season tickets and advertising is responsible for this year’s debit balance of £162 13/2. It is somewhat significant that the theatre takings for the first eight nights of the festival were equal to the amount taken during the corresponding period last year, and that it was only on the last three nights that there was a serious falling off in the receipts. Thie can be attributed only to counter attractions, and it is to be honed that something can be done to overcome this trouble in the future. On the motion of Mr J. Robertson the report was adopted after a brief discussion. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) ; president, Mr L. S. Alsweiler; vicepresident, jMr F. R. Ppfrie; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. E. Cuthill; auditor, Mr J. E. Taylor; committee, Messrs J. H. Watson, R. B. McKay, R- M. Strang, J. Robert, son. R. Taylor, J. Mehaffey, and Rev. J. L. Robinson. Members continuing in office were Messrs D. J. Wesney, J. J. W. Pollard, J. D. Gilmore, W. Carswell, and Dr. S. Brown. Tributes were paid to the retiring president, to the secretary and to the Press. At a meeting of the finance committee held at the close of the ordinary meeting it was decided that the executive meet on October 19 to decide whether a festival should be held next year.