OPERATIC SOCIETIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1938, Page 5

OPERATIC SOCIETIES

CONFERENCE AT NAPIER PROPOSED ROYALTIES AND PERFORMING RIGHTS. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL EXECUTIVE. Invitations have been issued by the Napier Operatic Society to kindred societies throughout New Zealand to send representatives to a conference in Napier. It is thought- probable that the gathering will take place in November. Performing rights and royalties will be the major subjects for discussion at the conference and the proposal of the Napier Society is that a central executive should be established to care for the welfare of the societies in the Dominion. It was pointed out by Mr H. Dowling, honorary secretary of the Napier Society that at the present time individual societies were obliged to make their own arrangements with regard to permission to produce and royalties payable on productions. At the present time it was difficult to know in many cases who held the

amateur performing rights and whether in all cases the professional companies were entitled to receive the royalties which the amateur companies were charged. “Another advantage would be the provision which would be made for an interchange of ideas, of wardrobe and of scenery,” said Mr Dowling, “while there would be added opportunities for mutual assistance and cooperation. By the establishment of this organisation negotiations could be en-l tered into by the parent body with the various companies for rights and royal-5 ties instead of individual societies making their application independently.