BAND CONTEST.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17940, 7 December 1923, Page 12

BAND CONTEST.

ARRANGEMENTS DISCUSSED.

The General Committee of the Chri&tehurch B\nd Contest met last nigl»t. Present— H. F. Herbert (chairman), T. H. Hall, W. Hoare, H. Swency, P. L. East git to, k. More, L. C. Fenn, A. M. Payne, C. Taylor, D. Gunner, A. H. Tucker, J. H. Merrie, and \V. Geo. Brass (secretary). Apologies were received from' Messrs R. A. Home, P. R Climie, R. Francis, and H. Hobbs. , It w reported that the contractor for the Bridge of Remembrance had held out no hope of tha bridge being available foa fic in time for tho contest. Tho Finance Committee reported on the mapping out of the city for tho purpose 01 canvassing for subscriptions. len blocks had been mapped out between Salisbury street and Moorhouso avenue, and between Fitzgerald and Rolleston avenues. Tho chairman referred to the liecessity for tho work being undertaken as soon as possible. The idea was to appoint two members to canva.33 each block. The blocks were allocated and the report waa adopted. Tho chairman eaid that the contest, as regards prize money and entries, would be the biggest held in Australia or New Zealand, and tho indications were that it would be sv great success. The committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club had very kindly lent their grounds at Addington free of charge. The secretary stated that there were 22 entries for the test and quickstep—ll in the A grade and 11 in the B grade; 15 for the hymn selection; find 301 for the solos. Mr Fenn said that he had. spoken to (several muflio teachers regarding the contest, and much interest had been shown by them. He suggested that a letter should be sent to music teachers emphasising the educational side of the contest, and requesting them to try and interest their students in it. Eo also suggested that the school teachers should be circularised with tho object of interesting the boy® from the Fourth Standard upwards in the contest. It might be possible to make a special concession for schoolboys. Mr Fenn moved in the direction indicated.

Mr Eastgate seconded and the motion was agreed to. It was decided not to send out the circulars till about tho end of January.

Replying to Mr Hall, the secretary said that four of tho competing bands had already engaged accommodation; six of the bands that had entered in tho test and quickstep had not entered for the eoloa. Mr Eastgate reported that the committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club had placed the tea-rooms at the committee's disposal, ana the rights of the tearooms had been purchased by Mr A. Rattray for £3O. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Hall and Eastgate, was set up to get designs and prices for the official medals. Mr Olirnie having asked to be relieved of the position of convener of the Publicity Committee, Mr Tucker was appointed. Mr Swenoy brought up the question of the farea to be charged by the Tramway Board for the transport of the public to the quickstep competition at Addington. He said that he had spoken to the chairman of the Board, who had suggested tlurt tho committee should send a deputation to the Board on the subject. The- chairman, and Messrs Hall, Sweney, and Horno were appointed a deputation to wait on tho Board.

It was decided to add Captain McGee and Mr Wm. Peppier to the General Committee. The matter of recommending the military judges was left to Captain Hoare and Captain McGee.

Officials of the contest were appointed as follows:—Supervisor, Mr H. Sweney; assistant supervisor, ilr F. L. Eastgate; marshals, Captain Hoaro and Captain ITcGee; Press stewards, Messrs R. A. Homo and J. 11. Tucker; timekeepers, Messrs C. Taylor, IV. Johnson, and R. Wallace. Mr Fenn said that the educational value of the contest should be emphasised as much as possible. The contest should bo utilised to inspire the younger men to become bandsmen, and fill the vacancief in the rank's caused by tho older players falling out. The chairman endorsed these remarks, and added that he would like to see a boya' band established in Christchurch.