“HARSHLY TREATED”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 10

“HARSHLY TREATED”

Band Disqualification PROTEST BY CONDUCTOR Claiming that the Wellington Artillery Band had been harshly treated, its conductor, Captain T. Herd, yesterday explained the position of his band in respect to the disqualification of the four local bands for alleged breaches of rules at the Masterton band contest held recently. “So far as the Artillery Band is concerned, the dispute was confined to one man only, whereas in the case of another band, there were no fewer than seven men implicated,” Captain Herd said, “yet the executive committee of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association thought fit to penalise the Wellington Artillery Band to. the same extent as the band which played seven non-mem-bers. “To those who know of the handicap in which this band was placed in having to play two men short of the number allowed, owing to their inability to attend the contest, it is thought that a reprimand or small fine would have met the case, but the executive committee of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association, backed by the representatives of the Wairarapa Bands’ Association, was unrelenting. “It was contended that the player was not a member of the Artillery Band, as a certificate of membership issued by the New Zealand Brass Bands' Association was held by another band. The reply to this,” said Captain Herd, “is that Mr. ‘X’ is a bona fide member of the Wellington Artillery Band, and has certified in writing to this effect, stating at the same time that he had never resigned from the band, which proves that it was wrong to issue a certificate of membership of another band. “The committee argued that Mr. ‘X’s’ name is not on the membership list of the Artillery Band which was sent in in order to comply with the rules of the association two months prior to the band contest. The reply to this is that at the time the members’ names were sent in the band was not in need of Mr. ‘X’s’ services, as the band’s instrumentation was complete, and it was only after one of the members had left the band in the lurch that Mr. ‘X’s’ services were required. Bearing in mind that he is a bona fide member of the band—and this can be proved—the members of the Artillery Band consider that they have been harshly treated by the New Zealand Bands’ Association.”