THE PIPING AND DANCING ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 14

THE PIPING AND DANCING ASSOCIATION

TO THE EDITOB

Sir, —Writing in your issue of the 25th, " Indignant Scotch Colonial" wonders why the Piping and Dancing Association has been deserted by ite own local supporters. Like him, I can remember the time when the annual competitions used to continue for a week and were well patronised by the public and competitors alike. In fact, on one occasion the festival was attended by the then Prime Minister of the Dominion (Mr W. F. Maesey). Those were the good old days, however, ■ and since then the society has steadily gone back. It does seem discreditable,. as_ your correspondent states, for a society of this nature to have to write to Scotland for funds when by far the largest portion of the population in Dunedin is of that ilk. Is it because past supporters have not been altogether satisfied with its administration? I fancy there is a little truth in this last statement. The society has certainly lost its past virility, and from all accounts is now preparing for its "swan song." May I ask why a certain tropby was not competed for at its last festival? Was it withdrawn from competition because a certain young lady who had already won it twice had a. reasonably good chance of annexing it a third time and thus making it her own property ? Actions of this nature have disgusted past patrons.—l am, etc., LOCHIEL.