MUSICAL UNION. ,

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 7

MUSICAL UNION. ,

AN INTERESTING MEETING. Mr. J. W. Joynt presided at the annual meeting of the Wellington Jlusic.il Union, which was hold in the Sydney Street Schoolroom last night, and was largely attended. .His Grace Archbishop Redwood was also on the platform. The president, in moving tho adoption of tho report and balance sheet, which have already been published, said that although a debit balance of £39 had been shown, this was reduced, on further examination, to £9. Tho finances of the union were in a fairly healthy condition. Tho season had been a vory expensive one, but there had been large receipts, tho takings at the doors at their concerts having boon £386, while they had also a very large solid body of subscribers. The slight excess of expenditure over receipts need not causo any anxiety. It was duo largely to the excessive number of m«sical organisations in Wellington, tho unusually numerous visits of distinguished European artists during the past year, and tho large number of benefit and other concerts. Wellington had been suffering from a surfeit ot musical ontertainnient. Tho city was musical enough, but they could not expect it to submit annually to musical indigestion caused by overfeeding. All proposals of amalgamation wcro extinct for ever. He hoped tho small debt would bo cleared off during tho coming year, and ho believed the attractive programme that had been drawn up would havo a conspicuous effect in that direction. Speaking as an impartial and atteutivo listener at the concerts, Mr. Joynt commended tho spirit, ring, and go of tho performances, which he. attributed largely to tho intelligent training of their conductor, Mr. Robort Parker. Ho would urge them, however, while preserving those good qualities, to strive io-attain more precision. Let thorn keep up, their lifo and enthusiasm, but try also to improve by'means of bard work. In making good resolutions for the new musical year they should determine that their work was not merely as good as it had been, but much better. They must maintain and increase their subscription list, hut not by seeking to take away members from other societies. They could ask those who belonged to other musical societies to join tho Musical Union also. Mr. R. C. Hamerton seconded the motion. Ho regretted the existence of a deficit; and noted the heavy expenditure on soloists, orchestra, and advertising. Credit balances in musical societies were exceptional, but he hoped the Musical Union would eventually be ablo to show one. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, vice-presi-dent, supported adoption of the report and spoki appreciatively of the work of the union and hopefully of its future. lie trusted they would be ablo to increase materially tho number of subscribers. Ho would always do his best to further the success of the union., Tho report and balance-sheet were then adopted. In addition to his Excellency the Governor, it was decided to nominate Sir Joseph Ward as a patron of the union. Mr. J. W. Joynt was re-elected president, and the following were elected vice-preei-donts:—Archbishop Redwood, Bishop Wallis, the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Cooper, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, the Mayor, Mr. W. Gill, Mr. ft. C. Hamerton, Mr. J. A. Plimmer, Mr. E. H. Dean, Mr. G. Shirtcliffc. Mr. W. M. Hannay, Mr. W. Houghton, Dr. Newman, Mr. H. Beauchamp, Mr. J. H. 0. Schwartz, and Mr. P. Hayes. rho executive committee was elected as follows:—Mrs. C. D. Mackintosh, Mrs. E. D. Cachemaille, Miss Archer, Messrs. W. R. Bock, T. K. Thomson, F. V. Waters, C. I. Dascnt, E. C. Cachemaille, and T. Forsyth. Mr. Robert Parker was re-elected conductor, amidst applause In acknowledging tho honour, ho said that ho had previously stated that ho would decline re-election until the financial position of the union was more assured, lie was delighted to hear that 30 new subscribers had been enrolled that evening, but he would withhold his consent for a week to seo what could bo done, Ho would not submit to seeing the members of tho executive committee worried about inonoy matters as they had beon ,in tho past. Subsequently, Mr. Parker consented to re,election, reserving the right to withdraw if the prospects of financial improvement aro not fulfilled. Mr. A. M. Lowis was re-elected lion, secretary, tho appointment cf an assistant to act (hiring' his intended absence on a trip to England being postponed. Oilier officers were elected as follow:— Treasurer, Mr. A. Bennett; librarian, Mr. J. P. Meckavj assistant librarian, Mr. Mill: orchestral librarian, Mr. K. S. Farmer; lion, pianist, Mrs. E. D. Cacliemaillo; lion, auditor, Mr. J. W. Jack. Tho meeting concluded with votes of thanks to tho retiring officers, the press, and others.