FOR ART'S SAKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1381, 6 March 1912, Page 3

FOR ART'S SAKE.

DEPUTATION TO THE CITY I FINANCE COMMITTEE. At yesterday's meeting of the Finance Committee of the City. Council a deputation from the New Zealand Competitions Society, consisting of the Eev. Father Hickson, Messrs. \V. H. Atack, H. Plimmer, and J. Dykes (secretary), requested the committee to urge upon the council to grant the society jome little financial assistance in the big project they had in hand. Father Hickson pointed out that the society was not out to make profit. As they would see by the balance-sheet of last year, there was a very small' balance. Last year the council had given them a cash subsidy which this year they had so iar refused, yet it had been privately represented to them by the Mayor (Mr.'T. M. Wilford) that they had only to apply for it and it would be granted. The Auckland City-Council had granted the Auckland Competitions Society .£SO, though tho competitions were not held iit the Town Hall. They were out to do good lo the city and assist art, for music, elocution, and essay-writing he regarded ,is forms of art to ba encouraged. He pointed' out that the society had paid the, sum of J.'2G3 in rent to the council (ordinary rates less 10 per cent). Jfr. W. H. Atack dwelt on tho good the competitions were doing, and advised members of the committee to note the demands which were being mode on teachers of music and elocution now these competitions were, being, held." In 'every little village and town in New Zealand they had one certain fime of the year when they were able to offer some sort of attraction native to the place, and that was what they were trying to bring abojtit in Wellington—a sort of carnival week, with an artistic basis or outlook. It was pointed out by Mr. H. Plimmer that the society took the Town Hall for over a fortnight at. a time, and I hat it paid about a fifth of its income in rent. This was probably twice as much as any other musical society in Wellington, and some extra consideration might be allowed without bestowing anything in the nature of n favour. Ho also pointed out that the competitions brought a great many people to Wellington, considerably augmented the tramways revenue, and enlivened business in the city—besides, the competitions titled in with the policy of the council, which subsidised bands and 11 Municipal Orchestra. The Acting-Mayor (Mr. John Smith) said that the request would bo taken into cnii'ideration. and that the society would hear from them later.