Brass Bands' Association.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7780, 2 March 1904, Page 7

Brass Bands' Association.

Annual Meet ing.

Headquarters Shifted to P.il-

merston.

.. The seventh annunl meeting cf tlie North Island .Brass Bands' Assccution was hold in the Coloni*! Buildings last night. About thirty delegates were present and Mr W. JLiutherturdwas voted to the chair.

ANNTL'L REPORT

The seventh annual report of the Association dealt with the work of the year The Association. had beeu registero't under the Friendly Socioties' Act. Referring to the matter of inu'ic for the contess, full details of the leaking out of the tide of the test selection were given: The firm which had supplied the test selection had been written to asking for the rifund of the money. So far neither the money nor the latter had been acknowledged. As Hawlißs and Son.could not supply the largo number of solos required, the balance.of tbe order had baen placed with Wright and Bound. An to quantity they had,-succeeded, but in quality thoir efforts muac be contiderfd a great failure as practically every piece sent out had been so long published that every performer who aspired to solo playing had had them ia hand for a Inns; turm. The firm regretted this and stated they 'were extending ueir insiruuiental soio department ami I-1 oped to complete satisfactorily anj "I'ders entrusted to them. The membership of the Association for the year was 23 bands with a total of nearly 700 •"neu. Detailed reference'w«s made to 'he various trophies presented to th« Association, mention of which has al■endy been made in these columns. A register of English bandsmen desirous '<£ coming to New Zealand and one of colonial bandsmen had be™ compiled. It was hoped that our bands would avail ihcniselves of ihis opportunity to obtain good reliable help for their ranks. It •vas. regretted that Mr Cohen, the Presi dent, who had been in indifferent health ?>irsome time past, and who had been obliged to deprive himself of the pleasure of presiding at the meeting, had deemed it necessary to ask that another be chosen to fill his place ag President To enlarge on what Mr Cohen had done for the_ Association was a task the Kxecutive was hardly able to do 3ustic» *o, but nevertheless the greatest honor that the Association could bestow upon one who had for so many years helped to fight their battles and and successfully too—shou'd be done, ■md the meeting would no doubt earnestly consider their loss of so unselfish, distinguished and valued an ■ iflieer, one whose name hud served to bring the Association to the proud position it-now held. The thanks of the Association were due to the officers and committee for their untiring efforts. Vtany matters of importance remained io be attended to and the incoming committee would, the Executive felt sure, ipproach their duties with an earnest -1 etdre to improve and better the condiiou appertainingi'to bands and bandsmen.

BALANCE SHEET,

The balance sheet was read. It showed a balance of £33 13s od at the of the year. Eeeeipts had tmounted to .£B6 3s 9d, and the expendi *vas £'82 19s, leaving a. balance of £5G 18s 2J. Th« assets were £60 4s 3d and liabilities £75 19s, their being a debit of £15 14s 9d.

The balance sheet and report was subject to being signed by the second auditor.

PRESIDENT,

Mr Holben said he understood, notwithstanding what was in the report, that Mr Cohen would no doubt be willing to be nominated ae;ain for President.

On Mr tiolben's motion, seconded by Mr■ Aldrid^c, Mr Cohen was re-elected President.

OTHER OFFICFB3.

Tlin following Vice-Presidents were elected : —Messrs S. Knight, Hastings ; R. F. Maunsell, M. E. O'Connell, P. L. Hollings. Masterton ; Lieut. T. Herd, Messrs G. Tiller, S Cimino, Wellington ; G. Hunter, Porongahau ;L. Cohen, Wanganui ; W. Park, J. Betf, W. Beck, W. llutherfurd, H. M. Simmonds, Palmerston ; Sir A. J. Cadman, Hon. E. Mitchelson, Messrs A.- Eady, A. i±. Nathan, J. D. Hunter, A. M. Myers, W. L. Hoffman, Auckland; B. C. Bobbins', F. McGuire, C. B. Major, .]. Kigham, Hawc-a; Hon. F. Arkwnght, Marlon ; Lieut.-Col. Stephenson. Messrs Hi Burnett, Woodville ; D. Mackinnon Bain, New Plymouth.

The following Executive was appointed : - Messrs Aid ridge. Masterton ; H. Cummms and A. Thompson, Wellington ; Lund, Marton; Lawrence. Woodville; J. Gordon, New Plymouth: IXC'harker and Clarebut. Paltnersion ; W llliamson, Auckland; Pothan," Hastings, l'he trustees:—Messrs J, W. Copithorne, A. Uichards and 8,. Jans en-, Wellington—were rp-appointpd, also Hie solicitor, MrP. G. Bolton, Welliugton.

SECRETARY AND TREASURER,

The election of secretary and treasurer was proceeded with.

Mr Oakes, who his been secretary since the formation of (he Association in 1597, said lie did not intend to stand for any office. Plis reason was that the work was becoming too heavy. It meant in connection with this contest giving half a day eve'iy day to the work aud as he could not attend to his business at the same time, he had decided to resign.

Mr Bennett said he could give uo reasonfor resignation. He would iiniply say that after the manner in which be had Vem treated, he would not again standfor any office. Mr Aldridge thought Mr Bennett should give some explanation of his action.

Mr Bennett replied that he and Mr Oakes had spent months of hard work, in company with the solicitor, in getting a get of rules for the Association. At a meeting immediately after, the rules were titlopted. the executive passed a resolution which upset the rules entirely and made them worth nothing.' 'I his resolution was in the direction of granting a certificate to a member of the Palmerston Band, Mr McKersey. This was his reason toryresigning. The resignations were accepted. The Chairman pointed out that Die town in which the gentleman they appointed secretary resided would in future be the headquarters of the Association. ■ , ~

After some discussion Mr F. Butler (Paimerston) was unanimously elected secretary on Mr Holben's motion. Mr B Holben was elected treasurer unanimously, and Messrs Eutberfurd and Dunk auditors.

WELLINGTON CONTEST,

On Mr Holben's resolution, seconded by Mr Dunk, it was dfij-idod that as iho Association was plodged to tbb Auckland contest, it could not support the Wellington Exhibition Contest. ..

AUCKLAND CONTEST

Mr Williamson reported ai to the 1905 Contest as Auckland. Satisfactory guarantees had b6c» obtained. He c>nid promise the bnnds a }>ood time. The Secretary of fclif Ooivest (Jomuii t?e su.i'i he ha 3 »ot a £500 gu-irnniee in a very short time.

Tho holding of the contest a1; Auckland was confirmed, rluie to be left io the Aucklund deloga ea.

The Auckluud do'egates said 'f. wns proposed to hold tlieco'itestimmed'ately prior to the Rjtorua Coiuesc ami Carnival.

LIFE MEMBER!!.

Votes of thanks we;v )MS--ed in Messrs Oi.kes and Bennett. They wiih Mps«in W. J. Smith (Marton) aiid A Baker (Wellington Ga"-ris.-*n >, founder-! of the Association, werj elected honorary lif... members.

nEADQUAnTERS.

It was decided lint t>ie <.flu;p.« nf >W Association- be TCHzibeth Bnililinys. Cuba-street, Palrne- tin Ni r;h. and tn:-.t the bankers be the B-mk of Aiistra.hi.>i,t.

OTHEI! RESOLUTIONS,

The. Auckland G«rri<nn U-i'id dMogates moved ''that rule 14 be altered to read 'three calendar mouths.'" Ihis w<is designed to discourag* the tratistu; of players from one band 'o another jcimediM'ely luifore a contest.—Carried

The siiino delouates moved ■" (];ac the entrifos for snlo contests he taken two months prior to contest and entries for bands be liken three months nrior to contest."—T.ie object of this r. solul'o i no,, to give IOD-ideration to soioims wiio are dianucd from one instrument to smother after their entrus are in.— Carried.

The SfUie dftleg-ifen1 prooosi ion th-t .the expen us ot mtuib-rs of ccmmiiitbe of the Asso-iiiition, while Ktieniin,? oiettinga ho levied on f,iiiittfd b>.ud->j wa- postpr.ueri tili next iunui -1 ti.e.ting,' Two Oi-h-r (irupu!-if.ion b.t-:«AU(ik-lan-1 del'-g-." - wir-Hd w The Palmerston elevates niovl."! " That for future cottests the judge's salary shall not exceed £50, including all expenses. —Carried

The Taranaki Garrison Pa-nd (;c-!e----ga- moved "That all bands nominating frr any i-.jntijf. undtr the Association rules shall fcrwa.-d such nomination -by letter p.cunnpanied by entrance fees, such nomination to reach the contest secretary on the date of closing of; entries, no nomination to foe accepted- unless by letter."—The motionwas approved generally and referred to the Executive.

Tha Masterton Municipal Band delegates moved " That competing ■bands be allowed one player who need not be a bona fide mem-uor of such band, but 'must 'be a member of an affiliated band"—Lost.

The same delegates proposed " That in the folio wing sections two competitors bo allowed to play :— Flugel 'horn, tenor trambone, 'baritone, and E-flat bass.— Lost.

Mr Ho! ben, Palmerston Band, moved " That -no competing •band -shall be allowed to play ans r teat music as an exhibition for thesatisfaction of the public in the town where the contest is being held, until such time as it is played at the contest.-' —Carried.

Mr O. AMrklge, Masterton, moved '' That the supervisor of all contests shall be elected at tliu annual meeting, and he s-haljl bo paid :30.s per 'day, and, where necessary, travelling expenses, such to be paid by the Contest Committee, the supervisor to 'be a meniber of the Association Executive." —Lost.

On the same delegate's 'motion it was decided " That Vice-Presidents bo dntitljid to vote at the annual meeting," " That bhc Chairman have deliberative and casting votes, at the annual meeting."

A motion giving honorary members a vote was lost.

A vote of shanks to the chair terminated the meeting.