BAND CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 88, 7 January 1908, Page 5

BAND CONTEST.

-—-4- —_ ithe selection of judge. AN EXPLANATION FROM DUNEDIN. (BT TELEGEAm SPECIAL COKRESFONEENT.I Dunedin, January 6. Members of ■ the 1 Kaikorai Band, having read the paragraph in The Dominion of> Do" cember 30, in which thoy aro referred to 33 "touchy," publish tho following letter in. the "Star" over tho. signature of j; G. Osborne, secretary"Having noticed that our action in withdrawing from tho forthcoming contcst at New Plymouth is causing some comment, we wish to placo boforo you the facts from our point of view. In the first place wo aro not standing out becauso we think that Mr. Herd will give first placo to the Wellington Garrison Band, We aro quite as well aware as your Wellington contemporary that tho Wellington Garrison Band did not intend to coriipoto. In. regard to thig matter wo may say that since band contests were inaugurated in No,w Zealand tho Kaikorai Band has, with no exception, been tho most constant competitor, so surely no one can accuse us of funking. In tho second place) to roliove a possible wrong impression in tho minds of tho public, wo think that thcro aro plenty of men in New Zealand who musically aro quite competont to judge a first-class contcst. Among that number wo think that wo may placo Mr. Herd, for ho has undoubtedly proved himself a good and ablo conductor, as results will show. It is not against his musical ability that wo havo our objection. ' It is becauso his actions at a recent band contest havo shaUon onr confidence in him very much. For instance, at Masterton it was common talk that lie got tho points out of tho judgo for the first night's play, and to make matters worso ho admitted this at a meeting hold tho next day. If that had been dono under tho old New Zealand Band Association, ho would havo been disqualified, but apparently, in tho North Island Mr. Herd can do no wrong. Again, on uniniphachablo authority, wo aro infoi-mod that Mr. Herd found out tho name of ono of the test solcctions for tho Inst Now Plymouth contest, and c.iblcd Homo, and also to Italy, and thus procured tlio full 3Core of 'Sobrco' boforo it was given out to tho bands, thus giving him an advantago; In tho faco of these facts, wo ask tho public whothor wo wore not justified in deciding not to spend £200 in going to a contcst to play under Mr. Hord."