PIPE BANDS CENTRE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 17

PIPE BANDS CENTRE

No Action About Contests

The annual meeting of the M elhngtonHawkes Bay centre of the Highland 1 ipe Bander’ Association of New Zealand washeld the other evening, when representatives were present from the majority of pipe bands in the centre. Mf, F. G. Bedding (Scots College) piesided. , , , . , The annual report and balance-sheet were presented and adopted. “Yofir executive besfs to report a very quiet year as far as the activities of tlic Wellington-Hawke’s Bay pipe band centre are concerned,” stated the annual report. “Owing to the depression it was considered inopportune to hold a contest among the bands iu the centre, while it was considered inadvisable to hold a contest that might interfere with the project of ally band intending to take port iu the Charapioiishfp contest at Dtluedim “As in this coming year it is intended to hold a brass bam! contest in Wellington, it might lie wise to consider the possibility of a Dominion or centre pipe bana contest being held nt the same time. Turn matter should be considered at the annual meeting of the centre. “During the year lurther effolts bay. been made to organise the builds in the centre. The Hunterville Pipe Band has become .affiliated, ami there are prospects of the Nelson Pipe Band also affiliating. The affiliated bauds now comprise Wellington, Scots College, Wairar.nna, Masterton. Feilding and Hunterville I ipe Bands.” . Officers for the ensuing year we., elected as follow: President, Mr. E. IlFike (Feilding) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. G. Bedding (Septs College) and W- - (Wairarapa t Highland Pipe Band) ; sccretary-treagiii-er, AH’. M. uiay Naisniith (Wellington) ; cxcc,lt ‘'®’ Messrs. W> Eraser (Wellington), la-i Cameron (Masterton), J- B. Johns (M uirarapa Pipe Band), and the officers ex Of Tlm Nelson Pipe Band intimated its intention to join the centre, and it was resolved that the boundaries of the centre be enlarged to take in Nelson and Marib°Tlie’ question of a Dominion contest was raiised in a letter from J* ie « , f. e Bands’ Association of New Zealand, ip.imating that so far no application had been made to hold a Dominion pipe band contest this year. , I, • The secretary expressed the opinion that the tihie was inopportune to hold a content in Wellington. The last contest at Duiiedin showed tlint only the bands nearby were able to compete, and the

same thing would happen were a contest to be held in Wellington. He agreed that time could be found in which to make arrangements, but thought failure would stare the centre in the face.

Mr. W. Fraser expressed a like opinion. Where was the money for prizes to come from? He could not see the centre raising £lOO for prizes at the present time. He considered it inadvisable for the centre to make application for a permit for a Dominion contest at the present time.

Other delegates spoke in similar strain, and it was agreed to take no action in the matter.

The question of a centre contest was also discussed, but after it had been pointed out by several speakers that the bands in the centre were iiot in a position to travel owing to shortage of funds, it was resolved to let the matter stand over. It was decided to recommend to the Pipe Bauds’ Association that the officers of the association be nominated only by pipe band centres and not by individual persons dr bands, nnd that the vice-presi-dent for the North Island be nominated by a centre in that island and the SoutTi Island vice-president by a centre in the South Island.