ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 March 1935, Page 6

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. CAMPAIGN FOR MEMBERS. Tlio rather meagre measure of support accorded it by the public was deprecated at the annual meeting of the Mastcrton Orchestral Society, held last night. The question of whether the society should carry on or not was briefly discussed, and it was resolved to leave a decision over to a future meeting of the committee, and in the meantime to launch an intensive campaign for new memters. The president, Mr F. Clarke, presided over a fairly good attendance. Mr Clarke said that the balance sheet, which disclosed a credit balance of £7 10s od, was not nearly as bad as he had expected. The society had been greatly handicapped by the lack of a suitable hall. He at first thought that the society vould have to go out of existence as a result of the Opera House being damaged. The Municipal Hall had a bad reputation for sound, and many people were not aware that something had been done by way of remedy. Mr J. Candy said that the position was worse than last year, and when the assets were taken out only a small balance was left- If this season’s operations were on a par with those of last year, then the society would be in debt. Mr A. E. Clem as thought the position was far from satisfactory. To his mind the society had been let dov n by its executive committee. The entertainment provided by the society was probably second to none in the Dominion. The society was serving a useful purpose in the town, and he considered it unthinkable that it should close down. Only one committee meeting had been held during the past two years, and that was attended by three members. There was something wrong somewhere. He thought the committee should bring down a scheme _to popularise the concerts and give playing members thein due. He was not in any way blaming the secretary. Mr Clarke said it was difficult to get people to attend concerts when they could sit'at home and hear by wireless some of the best music m the world. That and the lack of .a suitable hall, he thought, were the principal factors responsible for the poor suppor accorded the society. _ . Mrs H. E. Pither - said that the acoustics in the Municipal Hall had been greatly improved, and on the occasion of the last concert the sound had been quite good. ~ . The secretary, Mr E. Bell, said that the first year lie had been secretary he had followed the usual practice of calling committee meetings, and the result had been very dismal. No committee meetings were held at all the following year, which was a very successful one. Last year one meeting was held, and there was an attendance of seven members out of about fourteen. Mr Candy said that the crux of the whole position was to increase the honorary members. The drop in income last year was due to decreased memobserved Mr 8011, were appalling, and some were received from people they would least expect. After some further discussion it was decided to launch an intensive campaign for new members, and to leave the question of carrying oil to a future meeting of the committee. The conductor, Mr J. Candy, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his able and untiring services to the society. . . ... , iir „ o Mr F. Clarkh, retiring -president, was also thanked for the manner in which he had carried out his official duties. A vote of thanks was passed to the Press and also to the secretary for his fine work in the interests of the society.