BAND CONTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 11

BAND CONTEST

REASONS FOX.' POSTPONEMENT

The president of the North Island Brass Bands Association (Mr." H. D. Bennett) stated to-day that in. view of the objections made by one or two bandi it might bo desirable to state the circumstances which prompted the controlling body to postpone, ihe contebt. .Tho decision was airived at unanimously at a combined meeting of members of tho local and national bodies. Bands ddnnciled outside of Wellington had been circularised by telegram and the majority of the replies favoured postponement.

Prior to, the earthquake'and purely because of the general'^^depression.;, making it difficult for bands to .arrange; for transport, etc.,- the 'question of.postponement was considered;.- 'Although a number of bands hadthen. already Cancelled theii* nominations/ it was; decided at that time to carry on with ,the smaller number. - . V.,,- ■

Then came the. Hawkes Bay catastrophe. A further group of bands'from that district only Voided "to 'the, growing list of non-participants.-' pi the' -thirteen senio'p bands certainties -were reduced to four,.; and-thesb' included the two local bands ;'%ho''vvcre on the spot, and, of course; midijr no obligations regarding transport.'/.V'-pf the more numerous second (b) grade bands the survivals numbered nine out of twenty1-three, with no certainty that bottom had been 'ireache'd.--^Obviously; the contest was,losing it&'iiatipnal'character, especially am6ngst'f the Brgt'grade bands. •'■' ■' '..■/:■■■;. -.■ ;;i ■■ i "-"1 ■■■■'"'- ,y? :

On.the questtoi.'ofJ'fiiiaiice^iiJr^'as thought that as the pro'ceefls. 'in ■ ftny case would .most' liltdly : bß' 'voted ■ for relief, an announcement '■ to • this ■"■effect might help bands in other■ districts in their canvas for'funds.; But 'band' contest's are not always by any n;eans profitable. Of the last, two contests held in Wellington one cleared £10b0','b'ut the last one,;despite prosperous times and fine weather, resulted in a loss of £400. A _wet day for the guick^step, on. top of existing conditions,, and \vith a depleted field of contestants, was not a robust anticipation, and., the,'"chances of materially benefiting the relief,iund were, quite small. Similarly the laurels of the winning band would be shed!'of the lustre and kudos of a victory ; 6ver all-comers in a big parade.