COMPETITIONS IN CITY

Southland Times, Issue 24863, 1 October 1942, Page 3

COMPETITIONS IN CITY

PATRIOTIC REVIVAL SUGGESTED The revival of musical, elocutionary and dancing competitions, which were once a popular annual event in Invercargill, has been suggested as a means of raising patriotic funds. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the project will be taken up enthusiastically and the Publicity Committee of the Southland Provincial • Patriotic Council has approached the Invercargill Competitions Society, which has been in recess for about 12 years, with a request that competitions be held next year. It has been suggested that the first term school holidays would be a suitable date.

The competitions were abandoned in Invercargill during the depression period, when it was found impossible to conduct them successfully. It might be thought that if it was then impossible to hold a season which was a financial success, there would be little prospect of raising sufficient funds to make it worth while as a patriotic effort. However, there are certain aspects which suggest that the prospects are considerably more favourable than they were some years ago. The Civic Theatre is available for patriotic efforts at a substantially lower rental than for other entertainments, and the saving thereby made during an extended season would be a considerable sum. As a patriotic effort, competitors would probably not expect as valuable prizes as were offered before. In the circumstances it would not be likely that competitors would come from northern provinces, but a Southland festival would probably have greater chances of success now as a result of the greatly increased musical activities in the country districts. District competitions held in the various Southland centres have been highly successful, and a central festival would probably attract widespread support from country competitors. A number of musical, elocutionary and dancing teachers in the city who have been approached have expressed enthusiasm for the suggestion. They consider that the abandonment of the annual festival was unfortunate for the interest of young people in such subjects. A large number of Invercargill students have competed recently at the Dunedin and other festivals with considerable success, indicating that a good deal of support could be expected for a local effort.