Full Week for the Competitions

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 108, 1 October 1947, Page 4

Full Week for the Competitions

COMMENCING ON MONDAY. . MANY INNOVATIONS THIS YEAR. For its 18th annual festival which will be held from Monday to Friday next week, the Cambridge Competitions Society has introduced many new features, which are likely to set a lead for New Zealand. The aim is to provide the most valuable experience for competitors and also to make the programmes as attractive as pos-sible-for the public. v One bold innovation decided upon this year by the executive council, of which Mr M, O'N. Franklin is president, has been the elimination of prize money for all children's classes. That there is more value in competitions than the monetary gain is shown by the fact that the entries are greater than ever. Another feature will be the performance of a combined choir of over 200 voices at the children's prizewinners' concert on Thursday evening.

Great Demand For Health Stamp "First-Day " Covers An unprecedented demand for "first-day" covers in connection with the latest issue of Health Stamps which is on sale today, is reported by the Postmaster, Mr Colin Wood. Although many more covers than previously were obtained, supplies were exhausted yesterday. It has been eyident that school children are taking a keen interest in the collection of first-day covers. From a philatelic point of view, special covers do not add to the value of stamps of this nature. Plain envelopes serve the purpose equally well, it being the date of cancellation which is so important. . .The hand cancellation of first-day covers is an obliging task carried out by the post office staff.

There will be a rehearsal in the afternoon and the choir will be conducted by the instrumental judge, Mr L. C. M. Saunders, of Auckland. The holding of a children's final concert on Thursday evening is also a new idea, and it will enable the adult prizewinners' concert on Friday night to be completed in more reasonable time than in the past. The only classes in which the entries are poor, are the adult elocution. The vocal classes for ; both men and women appear particularly attractive, and there are also many prominent dancers taking part. As a result of elimnating a number of recalls, the Society has found it possible to concentrate all of the week's programme in the Town Hall, and this should prove more satisfactory for all concerned. The sessions will commence at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7.30 p.m. Admission to the day sessions is 1/- and night 2/-, with halfprice for children. While these charges are low in anticipation of a large attendance, it is to be hoped that many people will avail themselves of the' privileges to be had from becoming a member of the Society. A 10/6 membership ticket offers free admission to all competitive sessions. Admission to the prizewinners' con-, certs, is, of course, not included in the membership privilege. For the children's prizewinners' concert on Thursday the admission will be 2/6, with children free. On Friday night the charge will be 2/6 for adults and 1/6 for children. The Adjudicators For the first time, this year the society has engaged separate adjudicators for the vocal and instrumental sections. Mr W. Roy Hill, of Wellington, will judge the vocal, and Mr L. C. M. Saunders, M.A., Mus. Bac, A.R.C.M. (London), of King's College, Otahuhu, will judge the instrumental. The judge for the dancing is Miss Muriel Swann, of Wanganui, and the elocution will be adjudicated by Mrs E. Connor, of Tauranga. • Mr Stanley Jackson, of St. Peter's School will be the official accompanist.