OPERATIC SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 19

OPERATIC SOCIETY

FACES BIG DEFICIT

QUESTION OF CONTINUANCE

The Wellington Operatic and Theatrical Society sustained a loss of £454 19s on its production of "The Student Prince," and doubts were expressed at last night's annual meeting as to ■whether the society would be able to carry on. It was stated that the actual debts of the society amounted to £350, and that at present it would be able to pay about 7s 6d in the £. Mr. J. F. Woodward presided and, commenting on the loss shown in the balance-sheet, said that had the society's production not followed a visiting company's season in Wellington, or if the production had been put on earlier, a profit would have been shown. Other factors that had contributed to their undoing were the measles epidemic and the election campaign, which had adversely affected the attendances at the show The opinion was expressed' that the society had lost money on its production because of the smaller number of subscribers brought in during the year. This year there had been a considerable fall in the number of subscribers enrolled. Mr. R. Pritchard said a shield was presented to the member who enrolled the greatest number of subscribers, but the "rafferty" rules under which the committee had been presenting the shield had probably been responsible for any drop in the number of subscribers enrolled. Actually, however, there had not been a drop in the number of subscribers enrolled during the year. It was stated that the Napier society canvassed for subscribers long before their show was presented, with the result that they had often met all their expenses before the curtain was raised on their opening night. In Wellington, however, no canvassing was done till about a month before the society's show. Canvassing should be done before the dates* and all the details were finalised. Mr. Pritchard said that all subscribers enrolled should receive notices of every gathering held by the society. This had not always been done in. the past. OFFICERS ELECTED. Mr. Woodward, calling for the election of officers, expressed grave doubt as to whether the society could carry on. They could not expect to get credit in the future, he said. It was .unfortunate that they did not seem to have as much support from the public as was desirable. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Sir Thomas Wilford; president, Mrs. Knox Gilmer; vice-presidents, Mr. J. L. Arcus, Mr. M. J. Casey, Mr. A. G. Cathie, Colonel J. J. Esson, Mr. E A. Batt, Mr. T. B. Gusscott, Mrs. F. E. Herbert, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mr. Hope Gibbons, Mr. H. A. Huggins, Mr. D. D. Hyde, Miss A. Kane, Dr. G. Kemp, Mr. R. Kemp, Dr. E. H. M. Luke, Mr. Marcus Marks, Mr. W. J. Mason, Mr. A. J. Mazengarb, Mr. C. C. Odlin, Mr. H. Preston, Professor J. Shelley. Mr. 8.. Sutherland, Mr. H. G. ' Teagle, Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, Mr. W. S. Wauchop, Mr. H. F. Wood, Mr. R. B. Hammond; hon. secretary. Mr. D. Alexander; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. R. Searle; hon. trustees, Messrs. J. F. Woodward, H. A. Huggins, E. E. Le Grove; musical director, Mr. J. F. Woodwai^d; hon. solicitor. Mr. A. J. ■Mazengarb; hon. auditors, Messrs. Bowden, Bass, -and Cox; committee, Mrs. A. Woodward, Mrs. G. Walpole,' Miss A. Bacon. Miss D. Casey, Messrs. A. Haley. J. Cooke, W. Jameson, M. Cachemaille, C. Sims; social committee; Miss D. Casey, Miss R. Griffin, Miss I. Power, Mr. L. M. Cachemaille, Mr. V. Small, Mr. G. Power; play-reading committee, Mrs. G. Walpole, Miss I. Small," Mi 1. W. Jameson, Mr. J. Cooke.