BANDS FOR CONTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 6

BANDS FOR CONTEST

DISAPPOINTING SUPPORT

. "To date onjy 2025 shilling subscriptions have been received. There are now only eighteen days left in which to get the ■ necessary finance, and it looks at the present moment as if the executive will be unable to send even the" champion band away unless the response from the publie'is a little better," reported Mr. A. Buckley, the secretary of the Wellington 'Brass Bands' Association at a meeting last evening. The association is conducting a campaign for funds to send the Port Nicholson Silver Band (the champion band of New Zealand), and 'the Wellington Municipal Tramways Band, to the Dominion band contest at Dunedin next month, but, according to Mr. Buckley, it will be necessary for good public support to be.accorded to three functions during the coming week-end if the association is to achieve its object.

A considerable amount of time at the meeting last evening wa.s devoted to discussing the project of an open-air vaudeville and band night at the Basin .Reserve next Saturday, and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the secretary, who is to approach tho City Council with a view to com-7 ing to suitable terms for the hire of the Reserve. ..'■■-'

Mr. expressed regret that the-appeal through the newspapers had proved fruitless. He said that all the bands had been working hard • and he hoped that sufficient public support would be accorded to the functions which had been arranged for the weekend to enable at least the champion band to go 'to Dnnedinl :

Mr. W. Spittal, president of the Port Nicholson Band, said that his band had been training hard for the past two weeks. Practically every other band in New Zealand had written to him to say,they would be greatly disappointed if the Port Nicholson Band was unable to compete.