BANDS’ CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 10

BANDS’ CONFERENCE.

SOUTH ISLAND ASSOCIATION. VARIETY OF MATTERS DISCUSSED. The annual conference of the South Island Bands’ Association wag held yesterday. ’ The president (Dr H. T. J. Thacker) occupied the chair. The president welcomed those present, particularly the visitors from the North Island, and, in answer to a question at the outset, said that any bandsmen who applied in the proper way, through the secretary, would be excused from military drill, whether he was a territorial or a cadet. The speaker had made an effort to have the time taken up on band tours counted as military service. In addition, efforts had been made to improve the conditions of travel on trains and steamers for bandsmen. He also thought a bandsman travelling in uniform should have his instruments and gear carried free of charge. Dr Thacker added that this was one of the finest conferences he had attended, as the attendance showed -the great enthusiasm being displayed by the bands and_ their friends Bandsmen could make tneir own politics by taking an interest in their own affairs. He wanted to see bands travelling free. It was what they deserved. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated that during the year ,the following bands had become affiliated with the association:— Green Island, West Harbour, and Wai- 1 mate Silver. The 1930 contest was, as they were aware, being held in Dunedin, and they had to compliment the Contest Committee upon the liberal prize money offered. They had no doubt that the arrangements made would be quite up to the high standard set in the past by the Dunedin Contest Committee. The question of one-day district contests was a matter that the executive had had in view during the year, but owing to the arrangements for such contests falling through from want of sufficient entries, it had not yet been possible to give it a trial in the South Island. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that there were two outstanding matters to which he wished to refer. First of all, he would like to congratulate the city of Dunedin on its enterprise in getting such a magnificent ■town Hall and splendid organ. The other matter was that £IO,OOO had been given by Mr T. J. Thomas, of Christchurch, and a fine rotunda, with excellent Settings had been provided at Woolston. No doubt the fine performance of the Woolston Band had been inspired by its playing i n the fresh air and the lighting of that new rotunda. The chairman added that he would like to congratulate the bands in the present contest as far as it had gone. They had all been working hard for the past six months in preparing for this contest. mere had been a disagreeable duty o perform during the present contest, stud the chairman, in referring to the disqualification of two bands through he Plajmg of professionals in their nin es. I hose disqualifications had to bo made, as they wanted the contest to bo clean. The disqualifications had been made on admitted facts. w 1 ’ Th^ k f ad(lod that the next conof th ° x ° 1 " 1 M ™ d The report was adopted. VOTING POWER. It was decided that each band should have one vote at the conference. There was some discussion whether the members of the retiring executive should exercise a vote, and eventually the members of the committee intimated that they would not vote. J OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Dr H. T. J. Thackersecretory, Mr T. F. Hall; treasurer. Mr H. Sweeney; Executive CommitteeMessrs E.B. Hean (Christchurch), T. Carroll (Christchurch), C. G. BhlcptD- Murray (Greymouth), E Billchff (Christchurch), A. G. Homer (Dunedin), C. Parsons (Ashburton) \ Woods • (Milton), A. L. Familton (Oamaru), and W, J, Nelson (Dunedin), The .trustees are Messrs T. Andrews, R, J. Estall, and A. Payne (Christchurch), and the is Mr Mark Woodfield (also of Chrismhurch'). B GRADE CONTESTS. The following remit was received from the North Island Brass Bands’ Association:—“That B Grade bands be allowed one ‘own choice’ and one test selection in future contests.” It was stated that if the remit were adopted the music would be much more attractive. On the other hand, the opinion was also expressed that some bands might be ( placed at a disadvantage. A motion that the remit be adopted was heavily defeated. QUICKSTEP COMPETITIONS. A further remit was received from the North Island Association:—“That ‘own choice’ music be allowed in quicksteps in place of ‘ tests.’ ” It was explained that the object of the remit was to make the contests more attractive from the public’s point of view. The suggestion was also made that the bands might be allowed their choice of six numbers. The remit was rejected, ' BOARD OP TRUSTEES. The North Island Association forwarded the following remit:—“That a New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association Board of Trustees Association be formed.” The chairman stated that the idfea of the remit was that after big contests a sum of money, say, half of the proceeds, should be set aside as a trust fund so that if an outstanding man were brought to New Zealand to adjudicate he would he able to remain in New Zealand for six or eight months to play with and advise every band. The suggestion had been made that the first contribution should be made at the 1931 contest unless the Dunedin Committee made a voluntary contribution. It would also be possible to help necessitous cases. Mr E. Palliser (North Island) said that the idea of the fund was mainly educational It had been considered that an adjudicator should be kept in New Zealand for 12 months, so that he could assist every band, irrespective of grade. He considered that some of the money made at the contests was wasted.

The chairman suggested that the tund should be subsidised by the Government. The delegates unanimously approved of the principle of the remit, and referred it to a conference of three delegates from each of the associations. BANDS PLAYING FIRST. The Timaru Municipal Band forwarded the following remit:—“That the band playing first in the selections be allowed to play a second time.” The remit was rejected, but it was decided to recommend to the executive that it should give facilities to the bands to make arrangements so that there would be no hardship. RECALLS IN SOLOS.

The Timaru Municipal Band also forwarded the following remit:—“That m the case of recalls (soloists, etc.) the points in each performance be added together and the aggregate taken to determine the winner."

After very brief discussion, the remit was rejected. THE NEXT CONTEST.

There were no applications for the next South Island contest.

The Timaru delegates, however, stated that it might be possible to hold the eon : test at Timaru, probably in the open.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PLACES. Mr E. Anderson (Dunedin Tramways) referred to the fact that in A and B grade tests the points in the first test were not made known until the conclusion of the second test, although the placings were announced. He considered that the placings should also be kept secret, because the announcement of them had a moral effect on the bands. He moved that it be a recommendation to the executive that in future placings should not bo announced until the conclusion of the second test. ’ Mr Palliser stated that he agreed entirely with the spirit of the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. THE CORNET SOLOS. Mr Vincent (Waimate) stated that at present there were two cornet solo competitions, the championship and the open competition. He thought that the championship should be a means of finding the best cornet player in the Dominion. The championship piece, however, was not of a .sufficiently high standard, and a more difficult piece should be set to shut out players who were not sufficiently good for a championship. If a higher standard were set good players swould concentrate on it and leave the open competition to others. The chairman; We want a test something like the road between Palmerston and Waitati, Then we would get something pretty good. It was decided to recommend to the exexecutive that it should go into the matter of solos and music generally. DISTRICT CONTESTS. It was decided to recommend to the executive that any district be allowed to run a band contest. It was stated during the discussion that o. movement was on foot to revive the Otago and Southland Brass Bands’ Association. PRIZE MONEY. Mr Fogo (Kaikorai) stated that it had been agreed between the two associations that prize money at contests should be limited to £IOOO, but since then pipe bands 'and G Grade bands had been brought into the contests, and the prize money, remained the same. On his motion it was decided to recommend to the executive that prize money other than the £IOOO should be allotted to the pipe bands, i BASS SOLOS. Mr Drew (Oamaru) asked whether in bass solos a competitor would be allowed to play a soueaphone. The meeting decided that these instruments would be admissible. CENTRAL BODY SUGGESTED. Mr Nelson (Kaikorai) suggested that there should be one central body instead of two bands’ associations. Everything in regard to the rules had to be dealt va itli by the North Island Association, and a great deal of time was wasted. The chairman: I don’t think we can discuss the matton without a notice of motion. The secretary pointed out that there was a legal agreement between the two 1934 C ' a^°nS d * d not expire until ihe chairman added that it was a vital constitutional question, and he would not like to make up his mind immediately. Finally, it was agreed that the secretary should write to all bands asking their opinions, so that the matter could be discussed by the executive. A NEW CONTEST SYSTEM. Mr Palliser stated that the Wellington Contest Committee was considering whether it would dispense with solos in the next contest. Conductors had complained that they did not have sufficient time to rehearse with their bands because members were absent playing in the competitions. It had therefore been suggested that the English system of' picking out the best soloists while the bands were playing in the tests should be adopted. Quartets, trios, ?r,J concerted items would not, however, be dispensed with. It would also not be necessary for the bands to remain so long in the town where the contest was taking place. He asked for an expression of opinion on the matter.

The chairman stated that the question must be given consideration, and added that he would ask the secretary to write to the bands asking their opinions. GENERAL, motion was passed.expressing appreciation of the excellent manner in which the Dunedin Committee was running the contest. It was also decided to thank the North Island delegates for their assistance and to convey fraternal greetings to the North Island Association.