THE HARMONIC SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 3

THE HARMONIC SOCIETY

♦ : ANNUAL MEETING A SUCCESSFUL YEAR The eighth annual meeting of the Christchurch Harmonic Society was held last evening, when Mr W. H. Down was in the chair. The annual report stated that the society had completed eight years since its formation, and it might be claimed in that time to have made considerable progress as a musical organisation. In every respect the last year had undoubtedly been the most successful in the society's history. As usual three subscription concerts were given during the year, and all were well received by the public. The membership of the choir was kept up to full strength during the year, and, indeed, the difficulty of the committee was to restrict the mem-

bership to a manageable size without disappointing applicants for admissi9n. The society commenced the year with 352 subscribers and during the year received a record accession _of 152 new members. This splendid result was due in the main to the work of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Resignations and a careful purging of the roll reduced the number of subscribers to 448, a net increase of 96 for the year. Finance The general finances of the society were maintained in a satisfactory condition during tiie year and without special efforts would probably have shown a small balance on the year's working. Thanks, however, to the special efforts of the Ladies' Auxiliary, augmented in some degree by the choir, a substantial balance of receipts over expenditure for the year was shown. In these circumstances the opportunity was taken to write off many overdue subscriptions and to depreciate substantially the book values of the music in the library.

Shortly after the last annual meeting a Ladies' Auxiliary was formed with the object of fostering the interests of the society by such means as its committee might think proper. A strong committee was elected under the presidency of Mrs W. J. Hunter, with Miss Doris Webb as secretary. During the year Miss Webb found it necessary to relinquish the secretaryship, and her place was temporarily filled by Mrs K. G. Archer. The auxiliary organised several highly successful functions, which served both to increase the interest of the public in the society and to augment the auxiliary's funds. In addition to this work, the ladies' auxiliary was directly instrumental in obtaining for the society a large proportion of the new subscribers enrolled during the year. The auxiliary set out to put the music fund of the society in such a strong financial position that the society should no longer be prejudiced by inability to purchase such new music as the conductor might desire from time to time, and to this end the auxiliary transferred to the society's music fund the sum of £BO during the year, in addition to a further £SO transferred to the general account. The committee felt that the debt of the society to its ladies'

auxiliary was very great, and that its members were deserving of the society's most sincere thanks and appreciation for the work which they had done both individually and as an organisation. In particular the society was indebted to Mrs W. J. Hunter, to whose wonderful energy and initiative the success ot the auxiliary's efforts was very largely due. Mrs Hunter suffered a severe illness during the year, but her interest in and active organisation of the auxiliary's work was carried on even during this period, and the committee was exceedingly glad to know of the excellent recovery which she had made. Music Fund The society's music fund was inaugurated as a separate fund a little more than a year ago, and thanks in the main to the work of the ladies' auxiliary, it was now in a flourishing position. The total income of the music fund during the year was £llo Cs Sd, and thanks to the fund the society was able to purchase more than £IOO worth of new music, part of which had already been performed and part would be performed during 1935.

As in the past the society was indebted to its conductor, Mr Victor C. Peters, for the high musical standard of its performances. The new music introduced during the year, gave Mr Peters greater scope than heretofore for the exercise of his undoubted talents, and the results were exceedingly gratifying to the committee, the choir, and to the public at large. The society's accompanist, Miss Blanche M. Atkinson, had as usual given entire satisfaction both during rehearsals and in her accomplished and sympathetic work upon the concert platform. Miss Marjorie Nelson, after filling the position of librarian with great acceptance for several years, was obliged to resign from the position for health reasons, and her place was taken by Mrs K G. Archer. During the year Mr G. M. Martin was appointed deputy-conductor and the society benefited by his services in this capacity on several occasions. The success of the business side of the society was largely due to the splendid work of the efficient secretary, Mr K. G. Archer. An active social committee under the chairmanship of Mr F. R. Hawker and secretaryship of Mr O. Sprosen, arranged several dances and social evenings during the year and was instrumental in assisting the society's funds to the extent of £lB 7s 7d. The statement of income and expenditure showed a profit on the year's workings of £B3 19s 9d. In moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr Down said the progress made during the year reflected great credit on the committee and on every member of the society. That success had not been won easily, and -r C . was due to the conductor (Mr Victor C. Peters); the president of the Ladies' Auxiliary (Mrs W. J. Hunter), and the secretary (Mr K. G. Archer).

Mr W. J. Spratt seconded the motion, which was carried. The financial statement was adopted. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted:— President, the Hon. A. S. Adams; vicepresidents, the present vice-presi-dents were re-elected with the addition of Mrs W. J. Hunter. Mr W. H. Rose, Dr. W. H. Simpson, and Mr W. Jackson; secretary-treasurer, Mr K. G. Archer; librarian. Mrs K. G. Archer; honorary auditor, Mr L. H. Fee; committee, the retirnig members were reelected; social committee, all members were re-elected; orchestral steward, Mr J. M. Scott. The conductor, Mr Peters, addressed the meeting, and thanked members for their co-operation, mentioning especially the work of the accompanist, Miss Atkinson, and the librarian, Mrs K. G. Archer.