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EARLY CLUB PICTORIALISTS IN NEW ZEALAND
by W.A. TAYLOR
PAST PRESIDENT
CHRISTCHURCH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The suggestion was made that some “old timer” should place on record (before it is too late?) a little information on some aspects of early organized non-commercial photography in New Zealand—and the writer has come forward to record the state of pictorial photography prior to 1925 as he remembers it.
Of all the societies in New Zealand, the Dunedin Photographic Society must receive pride of place, for it is the only society having an unbroken existence since its inauguration. Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, not to mention camera clubs outside the four main cities, have all had somewhat chequered careers. The Dunedin Photographic Society was formed on 27th May 1890, at a meeting held at H. Dickson’s premises in Princes Street, Dunedin. The promoters were F. Monson, J.M. Gallaway, W.W. Wyper and F.B. Smith. W. Livingstone was elected president and R.A. Ewing secretary. A better choice of leaders could not have been made, for both gentlemen, judged by the photographic standards of their day, were very good workers.
Exhibitions were a feature even during the first ten years of the society. A.J. Barth, R. Chishom, and Skottowe Webb were annually producing pictorial work. W. Williams, who passed on in Christchurch not so long ago, had a display of his work shown quite recently at a Christchurch Photographic Society meeting by his son, E. Williams; on this occasion the present generation was astounded at its quality, both technically and pictorially. In 1901, the Dunedin Photographic Society held an International Photographic Exhibition. Prizewinners were: J. Stening, H. Blake, A.J. Perier, and J. Heron, of Sydney; S.G. Watson, Mrs. W. Fitzgerald, A.B. Keyworth, of Wellington; S.F.P. Webb, W.A. Taylor, of Christchurch; and A.J. Barth, J. Skottowe Webb, T. Scollay, of Dunedin. In the Invitation Pictorial Section were noted the following exhibitors; F. Styant-Browne (Tasmania); Dr. Roberts, C.O. McKellar, W. Livingstone (Dunedin); W.C. Voller (Brisbane); C.A. Benbow, W.J. Prouse (Wellington); J.N. Taylor (Christchurch); H. Bruzewitz (Nelson). Practically all the aforementioned continued to submit regularly to photographic exhibitions in New Zealand until about 1910.
left to right: James Stening, A.J. Perier
From 1910 until 1920 the three outstanding workers in Dunedin were A.A. Binnie, J. Permin and G. Crombie; of these the writer would like to single out for special mention G. Crombie, who unfortunately met his death in World War I. He was a prominent winner of awards on both sides of the Tasman Sea, and without any doubt on the writer’s part was the best landscape photographer that New Zealand has produced up to the present time. After 1920 the Rev. H.O. Fenton and George Chance came to the fore, and in both instances well earned their FRPS honors from the Royal Photographic Society, the highest initials in photography. G.A. Weedon is the only workers now in the Dunedin Photographic Societywhom the writer knew when he left Dunedin in 1920; since then a completely new generation has arisen.
Now for Christchurch. The first Photographic Society in Christchurch was formed on 3rd March 1890, H.R. Webb being elected president and D.T. Clark, secretary. Original members were J. Beaumont, C. Lewis, C.M. Phillips, B. Todhunter, Bishop Julius, J. Inglis and A.P. Harper. The last mentioned is still alive and well-known in Wellington as a mountaineer, amateur photographer, and as president of the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. From time to time his beautiful bush and gorge pictures are reproduced in the "Forest and Bird Magazine".
On 14th April 1893, a rival organization was formed; it was known as the Christchurch Camera Club, with G. Cox as president, W.J. Edwards, secretary. In September, 1894, the two bodies amalgamated, and went over to the University, becoming the Photographic Section of the Philosophic Institute. H.R. Webb was president, while Walter Burke, S. Page, T.N. Horseley, H.R. Wilkinson, C.M. Phillips, F.C.B. Bishop, E. Beardsley and J.N. Taylor were prominent workers. Walter Burke, as secretary, was the real driving force in making the meetings a success, while the annual exhibitions held annually from 1894 until 1898 stand as monuments to his energy. He was undoubtedly the pioneer of pictorial photography in Canterbury Province. The writer can picture yet the admiration that was be stowed on his collection “Swaggies I Have Met”. In 1897 the Royal Photographic Society added FRPS to his name, the first occasion in Australasia. In modern times two Christchurch members have attained ARPS, but Christchurch still hopes for the greater distinctions, even if only to catch up on Dunedin!
About 1899 the amateur photographers broke away from the University, and the section ceased to function. In 1900 the Canterbury Provincial Jubilee Exhibition was held, and in the photographic classes the “diehards” exhibited. Later that year, H.E. Gott founded a small club at the Christchurch suburb of Spreydon, but, on advice, it was moved to the city and re-named the Christchurch Photographic Society, with R.C. Bishop as president. The membership of the prior societies soon threw in their lot, the society’s strength being augmented by the arrival of such men as A.C. Mclntyre, T.G. Strange and G.A. Fraser. The culminating effects of World War I saw the winding-up of the society in 1918. However, in 1920, J.S. Wearn started it off again. He reigned as president for barely a year, being succeeded in that office by T.W. Rowe, M.A. On the death of that gentleman the writer reluctantly, after two deputations, accepted the office. G.A. Fraser followed, and held office for just one year; both of us, hardly young men, resigned for health reasons. F.L. Casbolt ARPS, has since held office as president, and many claim a better man could not possibly be found. The Christchurch Photographic Society now has the largest membership in New Zealand.
Moving on to societies in the two big cities of the North Island (and in the minor ones), the writer cannot write so fully, as his residence in the north was of short duration. When he was a member of the Wellington Camera Club in 1904, McGregor-Wright, A.C. Gifford, Davidson, and H.C. Milne were the leading lights, while J.A. Higginbottom was president for many years. Josiah Martin, H. Winkleman and Janet Finn were prominent workers in Auckland at the beginning of the century.
Envoi.: If all the names I have mentioned are bunched together, practically all out standing exhibitors from 1890 until 1920 will have been mentioned, for all these workers consistently “did the rounds” of the New Zealand Photographic Exhibitions. The present very popular Inter-Club Photographic Competition held annually in New Zealand definitely owes its inception to the Dunedin Photographic Society’s pioneering work.