CAMBRIDGE COMPETITIONS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 3224, 27 May 1924, Page 5

CAMBRIDGE COMPETITIONS

ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC MEETING. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho Cambridge public showed its interest in the local Competitions by the enthusiastic public meeting held in the Presbyterian Hall on Saturday evening last, when, notwithstanding a dismal, wet, wintry night, there was an attendance of some thirty ladies and gentlemen, in response to the appeal of the Literary and Debating Society, under whoso auspices the Competitions arc to held this year. Mr W. H. Reed (president of the Literary and Debating Society) made apologies for the a Vise nee of Messrs F. Lye. M.P.. E. B. Cox. M. McDermott, and H. Speight, all of whom expressed their full sympathy with the object ol the meeting. Mr Reed explained the reasons for the Choral Society withdrawing from active management of the Competitions this year, and explained that the Literary and Debating Society had resolved to carry on the Competitions. that night’s meeting being called to enlist public sympathy, elect: officers, and take such steps as were thought, necessary to carry out the Competitions of 1924. Mr R*eed then called on Mr Frank Penn (president of last year’s Competitions) to take the chair for the' evening. Election of Officers.

• The following officers were duly elected: —Patron, Mr James Taylor; president, Mr Frank Penn (ro-eleeted); vicoprosidents, Messrs Arthur Towsev and E. B. Cox; secretary, Mr Edgar James; hon. treasurer, Mr C. W. Clark; executive, Mrs Grace Walsh, Miss Alice T. Hanlin, Messrs W. H. Reed, Thos. Hampshire, E. B. Kemsley, A. H. Gascoigne, and E. Veale, with officers ex officio; auditor, Mr G. H. Bellamy. In returning thanks for re-election as president, Mr Penn said he keenly appreciated the honour conferred upon him. He said it had been a. great pleasure to work with such an enthusiastic lot of officers as they had had the previous year, and he felt sure the forthcoming Competitions would be equally successful.

Other officers also returned thanks for election.

The meeting resolved to set up a general committee, to assist the Executive, nnd generally to advance the interests of the Competitions. It was pointed out that the Competitions were losing the services of a few of its most, enthusiastic workers because they could not spare the time that the woflc entailed, and several speakers said they felt there were many who would help share the work, though, unable to accept responsibility as members of the Executive. The following general committee was elected: —Mesdames F. Ferguson and W. J. Ward, Messrs J. Sherris, W. Maberlv, W. Harbutt, C. Lange, S. James, M. Wilkinson, ,T. Ambury, T. F. Richards, C. Care, and J. S. Fisher. Date of Festival. A brief discussion ensued ro the date of the Festival. A wish was expressed that it be held as oarly as possible, so as to interfere with the school work as little as possible, the scholars being busy preparing for examinations in the last quarter of the year. At the same time, it was pointed out that the preparations for Competitions extended over a considerable period. Eventually the matter was left to the Executive. Thanks. The meeting closed with hearty votes of thanks to the retiring officers of lastyear, for their splendid services. Getting Busy. At a meeting of the Executive, held immediately after the public' rheeting, the matter of appointment of judges and .late of Festival was discussed very briefly, it. being decided to meet again in a few days’ time to take definite action.