NEW PLYMOUTH OPERATICS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1930, Page 15

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERATICS

AMATEURS. DECIDE TO CONTINUE.' Considerable enthusiasm wag shown at the special general meeting of the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society last night when more than &0 members attended. Mr, A, Mac Diarmid presided. After considerable dismission A'egarding the proposal to go into recces, the majority of members decided in favour of a show being produced this season.

Mr.-MacDiarmld stated ithat since, last meeting the -committee had. again, dis-. cussed thcrsoeiety.’.s..position and as the two essentials required for the sjociety’s continuance wore increasing, sufecriptions and membership it was gratifying to see such a large attendance. A fleputa- . tion had waited on the directors of the picture .shows and' had pointed out that unless they received help they could not carry on; -The' other side of the question had beett 1 shown to them and there was no' doubt' the picture people had many points' in their favour. If the theatre were'-.'let to the society at reduced rates it would be taking money away from the pictures. Mr. Theo TreSifce had been tentatively eligaged to produce the show. Mr. C. Downes supported the chairman. If the members put on a show it w.ould have to be an exceptionally good one, but he advised them to hold theii hand until after the coming musical comedy. When it had been shown, they could gauge whether it was worth while bumping up against big talkie attractions. It was pleasing to find that Mr. Mae Diarmid would act as chairman of the committee should the members decide to put on a show. ■ Miss Kitto' suggested that honorary members be enroii'ed, Air. Uoliicr considered that even if there wore 100 honorary members only £loff would be raised towards the cost. He estimated tho cost, of a revue nt £so'o. From a' 'biisiness point of view it was not really'advisable to hold a show this year. He moved that the society go into recess.jn seconding tlie motion, Mr. C. Tiehey stated that, with the time at their disposal, the members' could not possibly hold an opera ahtl-TvoVrld need to produce ;i revue, which' : W'ts more, expensive. Soma of tho ta'fFie revues had set a very high stinidded 'in that class of production a.u<l they would need to aim high if the.) hoped'’"td compete sueccssf»Hy. -n Mr. D3whes it was possible to put on' an.ojicAV if'the members were prepared to ■ Mr. G'. BlakeI’Boiii'tcd 1 ’Boiii'tcd out that at the last meeting' item'd beeii the wish of Hm nienibers* "(q cai’i’y on and the big attendance tfliowdfl? that the ineinbers ex- •- peeted” tli'c'’society" lb co'n'timic. _ He "did • not' agree v.dih tire possiniistic’'views ex l : pressed and he thought they -could ':pi‘odiii’h a fi'glit opera, nitiefi there cheaply than it’had been done'ih the past. The chairman remarked that in the past -tlie aim'of'W kocieiy had been to provide the members du ring' .the 'wi.n'tdi’-'rfi'atfthiij.'' '- The season wits Jitiif '■ftb'ifkl' 'be'

running into summer before, the show was going properly. Mr. Blako was confident that the society could produce a show and come out solvent. Even if it lost as much as on the last show, which had been the worst year, the society had sufficient funds to meet its liabilities. Mr. G. .V. Lambert considered that there was an atmosphere of sufficient interest in the meeting to carry it through. In the past he had thought the prices above the amateur theatrical standard and .the costs had been too high. These .points 'could well be con- ; sidered~by The committee. The motion was.lost by R largo ina.;ority.