NATIONAL BAND CONTESTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 14

NATIONAL BAND CONTESTS

SHORTER COMPETITION PROPOSED

MEETING HIGH COSTS OF ENTRANTS

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, June 21.

A suggestion that national band contests in future be restricted to three days will be considered by delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ association on June 29 and 30. The recommendation comes from the management committee of the association, and is designed at decreasing the expenses of bands attending the championships. For several years, contests have been conducted over a period of a week and the result has been that many bands have been prevented from entering because of the prohibitive cost.

A suggested programme for a threeday championships has been prepared. The management committee recommends that there be only one test selection in all four grades, the bands to receive the music five weeks before the contest. At present, there are two test selections in all but the D grade, and music is received three months before the championships. Apart from band competitions, the’ only other championships to be decided at the time of the national contest would be the quartettes and trombone trios.

The suggestion to be considered is that solo events be held in May, at the same time that the junior championships are now held. All sections could be catered for within three days. Remits from the St. Kilda and Wellington Waterside bands suggesting that two judges and a referee be appointed to act at contests have been rejected as similar remits to this effect were defeated in 1953. Under the present rules, defeated remits may not be reintroduced until at least three annual conferences have expired. However, in his report, Mr R. F. Belgrave, of Palmerston North, the president, comments on the costs of bringing judges from the United Kingdom. Because he was on a world tour, Dr. Denis Wright, chief judge at Invercargill this year, agreed to accept a smaller travelling fee than would normally be paid. It was only due to this that the luxury of continuing with United Kingdom judges did not result in a further heavy financial loss.

“This legacy of three conferences, whereby we are compelled to continue inviting United Kingdom judges, is exercising the minds of the management committee and is causing grave concern,’’ Mr Belgrave states in his report. The cost involved with another judge had been lessened because of negotiations with the Salvation Army. “But for these negotiations, the association would have been involved in an additional expenditure of at least £700.’ ’