SCOTTISH SOCIETY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 26 May 1928, Page 5

SCOTTISH SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of the Tarnuaki Provincial Scottish bociety was held j„ Smith's rooms last night, the Chief, Mr. C. M. Young, presiding over a good attendance, those present including a number of ladies. ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report presented bv the Chief on behalf of the executive, was read. A copy has already appeared m the "Post."

In, moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman said the balUnojHsheet the chairman numerous losses on functions, but tliere were several reasons for that. There had been a loss on the concert lor some years, and at last annual meeting the executive hlid Bought an indication as to whether they should continue the concert, and had been instructed to carry it on. Unfortunately the concert had again been run at a loss. Three of the ingleskles showed a profit and one : showed a less. Th«J children's ball could not be expected to bo a success ins view of the dreadful weather A sum of £ll 9s 6d h).ul been received from the Inglewood Scots Club as p donation towards the Stratford pipe band, but this had not materialised so far. Although strenuous endeavours had been made to produce the band as a live institution. These would be continued, and in the meantime the donation 'from Inglewood would be kept separate from the Society's general funds. The membership was 125, which did not seem a big enough number considering th© number of Scots people in the district. He had asked a number to join up, but was always met with the question of what benefit would arise) from membership. But the annual subscription to the Society was very small, and members could not expect- much to be done. Personhlly, he thought the subscription should be raised. The bal-ance-sheet must be regarded as satisfactory under the circumstances. They had had a liard struggle to carry on, but conditions were now more flivoumble and they looked forward to a better time. Mr. S. Macalister seconded. He thought the results disclosed by the balance-sheet were as good as could be expected. The executive hhd worked as hard as in any previous year, and he thought they could not be blamod for the non-success of the functions. Personally, he thought that some of the Society's functions were nqt so attractive, to. the. public as they hhd been previously. In the past* year, anticipating that there might be a loss on the concert, it had been decided to reduce the cost of it without sacrificing any of the duality of the programme. Despite th'nt the concert had showed a loss. If ingle sides could" be run at a profit winch would compensate for the work entailed, be thought they should be held frequently. An endeavour should be made to get better support for the functions run by the executive. On some things losses were expected. There had been a. loss on .the sports, but that loss might easily have been greiiter. He desired to express his appreciation of the work of Chief Young, who had worked hard despite the disheartening effect of jpoorijyiafctiended fiui/ctihns. He (the speaker) admitted candidly thb-t he had failed in the promise he had made at last annual meeting, to help with the work, but he hhd other organisations to attend to and had been ver- busy. He drew attention'to the fact that the financial position was better thhn was disclosed in the bal-ance-sheet, as many unpaid subscriptions would probably bo collected. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was enrried.

ELECTJON OF OFFICERS

Officers were elected as under: —

Chief, Mr. Moore

Chieftains, Messrs. T. W. Smith, S. Macalister, J. Petrie Senr., W. MacDonald, D. Butohkrt, G. Smart, C. M. .Young, J. Jemison, J. O. Young. Treasurer, Mr. J. Petrie, Senr. Secretary, Mr D. M. Cilarke. Hon. Chaplain, Rev. J. McGregor. Auditor, Mr. W. Power. Tho following was elected to fill vacancies in the executive: Messrs. J. Morrison, P. T. Aitken, J. J. Duncan. Miss Jean MeLachlan was appointed honourary dancing mistress to tho Society. THE SECRETARY. Mr C. M. Young said it was impossible for the Society to make a vote to the secretary adequate to recompense him for"" the work done, but he thought something should be voted to him. Ho would move that an honorarium five guineas be voted to Mr. Clarke. „ Messrs S. Macalister and 1Thomson supported Mr. \oungs remarks, and the motion was earned. THE CONCEPT. Mr Macalister moved that no concert be held this year. Mr C M. Young seconded. lie hk nd the concert because it kept the Sof People together and kept alive -the interest in Scots songs, but he could not see the use of making adoss vear after year. Mr T W Smith moved as on amendment that decision in the inntj °* the executive In one yearl tnere had Veen a very successful concert fa result of the engagemen ol; a noted Scot, lady singer, and ho *? - - fegrSu? SB arise during the y °M l r. J. Orr seonded and the afliend-