BRASS AND PIPE BANDS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 26 May 1932, Page 5

BRASS AND PIPE BANDS

TAB AN A'kFaSSOCI AjTION . REVIEW OR THE YEAR. The report presented to the annual meeting of the Taranaki Brass and Pipe Bands' Union at Stratford last nigiit stated that interest had been well maintained, the annual contest drawing entries from eiglit brass and five jiipe bands. The contest from a musical standpoint was a great success, but the bad weather affected the finance considerably. Thanks were due to the contest committee, of which Mr D. J. Malone was chairman, and to all bands who competed and to the Press. The union showed a credit of £2B 7s 3d as compared with £3B last year. Members present included Messrs P. Thomson (.Stratford), W. Hawkins and J. Kay (Hawera), W. Orr and l>. Clement .(Eltham), A. Heyaon and U. A. Wells (Kaponga)', A. Beesley and 11. Andrews (Eltham Brass Band), and delegates from New Plymouth, Inglewood, Waitara, and Stratford. It was agreed after discussion that the union would pay the loss incurred of £lO 8s on the contest. Officers elected were: Patron, Mr P. Thomson; president, Mr P. 'Skoglund; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Burmester; auditor, Mr iG. A. Harter. RE-GRADING. It was proposed that for the next contest the B grade play the New Zealand championship test march and selection, and that the C grade have its own choice. Mr Andrews thought the time had come for a re-grading. It was thought that as Eltham had won the 'C grade twice in succession the band should go into the 'B grade and thus eliminate the feeling that Eltham was keeping other bands out of the competition.

“This is a sporting offer," said Mr Beesley. “We have heard that some other C grade bands will not compete again if we stay in the 0 grade. Therefore we offer to go up -to B. ’’ The question was left to the discretion of the Eltham Band.

Mr Estall was appointed adjudicator for the brass bands. As only three pipe bands were represented the nominations for a pipe adjudicator will be submitted to the other bands for their opinions. It was decided that one month prior to every contest every band be compelled to forward to the union a list of the names of its members (own signatures) and places of abode. It was resolved that prize money for contests be discontinued. It was resolved to defer decision on the venue of the next contest until the first executive meeting, .so that all centres could in the interim consider forwarding applications. The secretary stated that in the event of no other application being received Stratford would apply. In future the judge of the pipe bands will be asked to use a regulation score card and that one band’s score will be handed to the steward before the next band takes the field.