Garrison Band Success

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7065, 26 January 1933, Page 8

Garrison Band Success

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Regarding your report of the Palmerston North Band’s success at the Napier contest I would like to ask if the band’s personnel at the contest was the same as that which practised on the Showgrounds during the past fortnight. If so, I would like to state that your remarks to the effect that the band consisted only of junior players is not correct as I noticed, five or six at least of the players were men of no mean ability who have been playing in the A grade band for a number of years to my knowledge. When a band Competes at a contest as a C grade band and plays with this number of A grade players I do not consider that there is much credit due to them on their win and in my opinion is a deliberate attempt on their part to hoodwink the public of their home town into thinking they (the public) have something which they nave not got, namely, an outstanding band. By this last remark I do not mean that we in Palmerston North have not got a good band but I do think that any band entering a contest should play on its own merits. The junio’r band is supposed to be a separate band on its own and if it is necessary to draw such a number of players from the senior band then it is not playing on its own merits. —I am, etc., “CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.” Palmerston North, 24/1/33.

[When practising at the Showgrounds senior and other players were used to make a full muster for the marching during the temporary absence of the juniors. At Napier the junior band was allowed the privilege of one senior player only and that privilege was exercised.]