STRATFORD SCOTS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1935, Page 6

STRATFORD SCOTS

ANNUAL MEETING OF SOCIETY. FINANCES SLIGHTLY IMPROVED. A thoroughly satisfactory financial position and a successful social year were the chief features of the report submitted to the annual meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society at Stratford last night. The chief, Mr. T. Smith, presided over an attendance of about 17 members. It was gratifying to know that the society had very seldom been refused help when it was asked for, stated the chief in his annual report, and he thanked all who had come to the society’s assistance. During the year the committee decided that it was practically impossible to carry on the inglesides in the manner it had been accustomed to without making a severe drain. on the funds. Its efforts, therefore, were confined in the main to the annual ball, one ingleside, two “members and friends nights,” a Bums’ night and a community sing. The members’ nights were well attended and popular. The Hawera Scottish Society deserved special thanks for the splendid concert party it brought to Stratford. The Bums night was an outstanding success in every way, and the society was fortunate in securing Miss Corrigan, Hawera, to give the address. The community sing yvas a new venture, but it met with splendid support. The society was invited to different districts of Taranaki during the year and took concert parties to Awatuna, Te Kiri, Matapu, Douglas, Opunake and Auroa, and on every occasion the parties had been able to leave a substantial cash balance in the hands of the inviting committees. The society could not claim any great increase in membership or in the bank balance, but it hoped that with better times it would share in the general im-., provement. It had been suggested that the society had been wrong not to make a charge for its services in the country districts, said Mr. Smith. He did not agree with that, as although concert parties had brought no money back to the society they had built up a feeding of goodwill around them.

Reference to the advance in the financial position was made by Mr. W. L. Kennedy, who seconded Mr. Smith’s motion. The committee was to be congratulated, he said. Mr. J. Morrison also commended the committee on its work. He did not see that it was worth while going on with the inglesides at Stratford, said Mr. Morrison. It was only making extra work for the women supporters of the society and did not help the society. He suggested that the society confine itself to the members’ night, the social evening arranged for the visit from the Hawera Society, and the Burns night. The attendance at the band practices had not been as good as they might have been, reported Mr. E. P. Aldridge, pipe-major. Street parades had been held periodically, and much favourable comment had been forthcoming from business people. Engagements had included the Stratford winter show, Caledonian sports at Manaia and the Ohura A. and P. show, while individual members on occasions assisted sports The band competed at the Taranaki contest at Stratford on March 8 and gained second place. The judge commended the band on its improved performance. There were eight pipers, two drummers and a drum-major as, active members, and a drummer and two pipers who assisted on occasions. The pipe-major thanked the band members, and their employers for their co-operation. Mr. Kennedy congratulated the band on its performances, especially at the annual Taranaki contest.

The following officers were elected: — Chief, Mr. W. L. Kennedy; chieftains, Messrs. J. Petrie, T. Smith, J. Morrison, R. McFarland, F. Ferguson, R. McCormick, J. Littlejohn and E. P. Aldridge; chaplain, the Rev. J. McGregor; auditor, Mr. W. Power; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr. D. Butchart; delegates to sports association, Messrs. J. Morrison, T. Smith and E. P. Aldridge; executive, Messrs. H. Millar, K. McKay, J. Edwards, R. J. McFarland, R. Webby and J. Rogers; ladies* committee, Mesdames Johnson, Morrison, Petrie, Rogers, Smart, Young, McDonald, McCluggage, Hann, Aldridge and Paterson. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £3 3s, and the pipe-fnajor an honorarium of £2 2s. The auditor was voted £1 Is. Mr. Aldridge was appointed to take charge «f the band uniforms. Referring to Mr. Morrison’s recommendations about i*»e next year’s activities, Mr. Smith said he would not like to see the executive confined to one members’ night a year. The ball was not the success it was once and was not now so important, but the members’ nights were a very important feature that did much to further the interests of the society. Mr. H. Millar spoke against the discontinuance of the annual ball, but he favoured more members’ nights. The executive was entrusted with the programme for the year. Appreciation of the services as chief of Mr. T. Smith was expressed by the new chief, Mr. Kennedy, and this was recorded.