FORTHCOMING BAND CONTEST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12615, 18 November 1911, Page 5

FORTHCOMING BAND CONTEST.

In view of the letter signed "Old Bandsman," which appeared in our columns , last night, a representative of the Herald interviewed the Mayor, who is chairman of the accommodation committee, in connection with the forthcoming contest. Mr Pettie stated that the (statements contained iri the letter did not fairly state the position, and were entirely misleading. The cdmmittee had arranged full and proper accommodation for the competing bandsmen, and so far as the hotels were concerned the Royal Hotel had agreed to accommodate brie band and cater for ari 'additional band; the* Record Reign -would cater for one band ; * the British Empire 'V\yould accommodate half .a band and cater for the whole band ; the -Coronation would cater for a band; the Turanganui would cater for a band ; the Masonic offered to accommodate half a band, if urgently required, and Would also take the ! judge and visiting officials::* The' other* >f wo hotels could make no definite prorhise* of accommodation, • but *-_H the hotels offered to 'do: all tbey'couid to* contribute to the cbmJPort""of the* visitors/ and 'this Mould show that there was absolutely no grounds for ther statement tliat the bandfcmeti would- 'be durhped down anywhere. The Accommodation Committee had als"o made special arrangements for the' protection of the property of the bandsmen. Where bandsmen will be located in halls the committee have arranged that in each case a man will be in charge. ' It would: bet unfair to the accommodation committee, who have done all in their power to secure comfortable accommodation- for' the' bandsmen, to let the impression go abroad that their comfort is not being adequately catered for. The hptelkeepers fov- their part had offered to assist the committee in every way possible], and it was only the fact that their' accommodation would be fully taxed by c6untry visitors during the holding o'f'snc'h an important carnival that, they would not have space for more. ' ' ' . '''"• ' '.' ' '