COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 104, 27 January 1920, Page 3

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

CIVIC SUPPORT-SOUGHT. Rome time ago the Wellington Competitions Society approached ' the City Council with a request that tho council remit a portion of the rent paid by .the society for the use of the Town Hall, ' but the council refused the application. ! Yesterday a deputation consisting of the ; Rev. A. E. Hunt (vice-chairman of the Competitions Society), and Messrs. V. i G. Cray (chairman of the society), J. H. ! Helliwell (ex-chairman), and G. W. Jeui ner (secretary of tho society) waited on the Finance Committee of the City Council, with a view to seeking from the council some financial help for the maintenance of the Competitions. • Mr. Cray referred to the previous deputation, and went on to emphasise the importance of the Competitions, which had proved themselves very beneficial to the community at large, liecauso they were instrumental in bringing out latent talent. Prior to the war both the Dunodin and Chrktchnrch City Councils voted a sum of 4:50 to the" respective Competitions Societies and tho local society felt that the Wellington Council, whilst not being ablo to remit the rent, might make a- similar donation to take the form of a scholarship. Local business firm* had donated a piano and a vocal scholarship, each valued at .£25 per annum, and ho would suggest that the council donate a scliolar.-iSip of .£SO per annum. The speaker reminded the , committee that in 1019 tho society paid the council ,£413 for rent for the' Town Hall, and while he knew (hat tho council endowed the Technical College.with an annual payment, "fio trusted that the . committee would recognise that the local , society was a Wellington institution • worthy of every support. , The Rev. A. i'v Hunt said'that in view ( of the fact that the City Council subsidised certain'institutions, as well as ] bands, it would bo eminently fitting for ] the council to recognise the society by | contributing a scholarship as suggested , by Mr. Cray, | Councillor L. M'ttenaie: The bands | are. subsidised as a business proposition, j arc they notP .

.The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.): Not altogether as a business proposition. In reply lo the deputation, the Mayor said t'hat tho council whs very pleased to hear the representatives' oi' tho society, and ho wished to congratulate tho organisation, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, for Its effort*. Time would not permit of Ills going into detail on the points raised, but tho committee, as well as t'iiTo council, would go fully into the matter and consider the proposition put forward.