ST. KILDA BAND.

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 9

ST. KILDA BAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—There lias been quite a teacup storm over the position of the St. Kilda Band a.s compared to Wanganui Garrison. “Wanganui Supporter” states that the Wanganui Garrison won both tests. Quite correct; but it did not win all the tests. The Conn Shield is recognised by the Bands’ Association (which included throe Wanganui members) as the sure championship shield. This shield is given for the total points in music—that is, tor tests, own choice, and the quickstep music, all music points only. This shield was won by the Woolston Band with 502 points. St. Kilda was next with 500, then the Wanganui Garrison with 496; so WoolMtmi is the champion band, with St. Kilda in a four-point better position than Wanganui Garrison. The Besson Shield can also bo taken as a more accurate test, inasmuch as it included all the sitting-down tests only—that is, the two set pieces, also the own choice selection. The result also shows that Woolston is the champion band. The Woolston Baud scored 369 points, St. Kilda 368, and Wanganui Garrison 365; so St. Kilda is in a three-point better position in the sitting-down playing also than the Wanganui Garrison. Mr Ricketts’s comments are hard to follow when he states that the Wanganui Garrison Band was head and shoulders above any other band. He gave the points, and contradicts himself, as on his points he gives Woolston four points more than Wanganui Garrison on the sitting-down music, and on the total musical points (including the quickstep march) ho gives Woolston a six-point better position; so how Mr Ricketts can reconcile his decisions with his expressed opinions is hard to say. St. Kilda and Wanganui writers should see that neither of their bands is on top, but that Woolston is first, St. Kilda second, and Wanganui Garrison third.

Such being the case, it is to bo hoped thnt all band enthusiasts and others will carry out Mr E. S. Wilson’s views and recognise that we have the band which is only two points bohind the champion band of New Zealand, and that it is quite good enough to represent New Zealand anywhere if Woolston and Wanganui Garrison are, because it comes out as being a better all-round band than Wanganui and very little inferior to Woolston.—l am, etc,, Kaikorai Band Supporter. March 13.