NATIONAL BAND CONTESTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 12

NATIONAL BAND CONTESTS

MOVE TO REDUCE EXPENSES

FOUR-DAY COMPETITION SUGGESTED

The expenses of the present weeklong national brass band contests are too great for many of the smaller New Zealand bands, and several days may be cut off the next Dominion contest to bring the cost more into line with the small-band budgets. In Christchurch yesterday delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Erass Bands’ Association instructed the management committee to go fully into the question, with a view to cutting the contests to “a minimum of not less than four days.” About 1000 bandsmen from all parts of New Zealand attend the annual contests, and many of the bands have to foot large travelling and hotel bills afterwards.

But not only the bands themselves are concerned —heavy demands have also been made on the funds of the national association. Added to these are the wages lost by many of the bandsmen attending. “The present contest schedule is an enjoyable week for the bandsmen themselves, but the enormous expense involved in equipping and sending a band from one end of New Zealand to the other, plus accommodation and the loss of wages, is becoming a nightmare,” said the president (Mr R. E. Belgrave, of Palmerston North), in his report to the conference. “The management committee is unanimously of the opinion that it is time to start an abbreviated or ‘compressed’ contest.” he said.

Past conferences had proposed and approved various schemes, but the contest committee’s reluctance to manage a shorter contest had resulted in a continuance of the present “suicidal system,” said Mr Belgrave. “Cannot something be done about this?” About 50 delegates attended the conference, which is expected to end today. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr Belgrave; South Island vice-president. Mr R. S. Waterston (Dunedin); North Island vice-presi-dent, Mr J. C. King (Wellington); management committee, Messrs J. F. ni lei lk G ° ffin and L. Thorne lsland); Messrs M. F. Blackie t i ™ at and R - Simpson (South island). The committee was re-elected. the exce Ption of Mr C. Frew, of Ashburton, who did not seek re-elec-tion, after six years’ service.