CHAUTAUQUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1921, Page 7

CHAUTAUQUA.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH SEASON. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FORMED. A meeting o£ those interested in the Chautauqua movement was held in the Soldiers’ Club, New Plymouth, yesterday afternoon, to discuss arrangements for the 1922 season, which commences on February 4. There was an attendance of about a dozen persons, and apologies were received from three others. Mr. 0. H. Burgess was voted to the chair. In opening proceedings Mr. Burgess said that so far fifteen had signed the guarantee, but about sixty were required. It had been suggested last year that efforts should be made to secure a bigger number of people to sell tickets. In connection with the meeting he had sent out between fifty and sixty circulars, but, as could be seen from the size of the meeting, the response had not been a very big one. They had to sell 410 tickets by the opening date of the season in order to clear their responsibilities. They also had to provide a hall and local expenses, and against this the committee were allowed 50 per cent, of the proceeds of tickets sold above the required number of 410 and fifty per cent, of the day sales. This would probably see them through the expenses. Mr. Burgess intimated that tickets had already been forwarded, so the committee would be able to make an early start. Mr. P. E. Stainton recalled that last year’s- committee had undertaken the responsibility of getting Chautauqua for the coming season, and they had authorised Mr. Burgess to sign the guarantee on their behalf. They were morally bound, therefore, to relieve Mr. Burgess of his obligations, and to undertake the organisation work. He was sonny a greater number of last year’s committee had not attended the meeting or sent apologies, but probably there might be reasons for the absence. He favored going right ahead with the organisation, and approaching the members of the old committee.

Subsequently it was decided, on the motion of Messrs. Stainton and J. McLeod, that tickets be distributed to the committee, as set up last year, and that endeavors be made to secure further signatures to the guarantee.

Mr. A. B. Gibson agreed to continue in the capacity as secretary, and Messrs. McLeod and Stainton undertook to make a personal canvass of the persons interested in last season’s Chautauqua. The following executive committee was set up: Messrs. Burgess, McLeod, Day, F. J. White, P. E. Stainton and H. Cocker. Mr. Stainton was appointed treasurer. The distribution of tickets will be undertaken by the executive.