BANDSMEN'S BEHAVIOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13307, 17 February 1914, Page 7

BANDSMEN'S BEHAVIOR.

THE SCENE AT AUCKLAND.

(Special to Herald.)

AUCKLAND, this da,

In Saturday afternoon the concluding session of the band contest hold under the auspices of the North Island Brass Bands Association was marked by an incident of a most- regrettable nature. When the quickstep competitions were completed, the bands were assembled to play the march "Imperator," under tho baton of tho judge, Captain W. B. Bentley, of Sydney, and it was then that members of two bands evidenced their disapproval of iho adjudicator's decisions. The bands were posted to positions to form three sides of a hollow square. In mounting np into line anumber played "Yankee Doodle" and other popular airs. The spectators thought this procedure a little unusual, but any comment was of a jocular nature. When Captain Bentley mounted tlie -stand and raised his baton, about three-fourths of the bandsmen commenced tho "Imperator," but there was considerable surprise when there came a strange medley of sounds from the instrumentalists on the captain's left. An attempt to quell the disturbance was unsuccessful, and Captain Bentley left the stand. A number of officials spoke to the offenders, and exhorted them "to be sports and play tlio game." Captain Bentley again took charge, but before the march was recommenced several men united m counting him "out." Eventually order was restored, and although all the bandsmen did not play, they refrained from further interruption. At the muster of bands at the Exhibition on Saturday eveniiig, some of the bands did not attend.

In speaking to a reporter on the incident, Captain Bentley stated that it was somewhat singular that when he had acted as adjudicator at tbe Christchurch Exhibition seven years ago, the Wanganui band hau gained first prize. Apparently the members of the band found no fault with his decision on that occasion, but lie understood that they were not satisfied with his Judgment on Saturday. The fact of the matter was, said Captain Bentley, that seven years ago there were only three first-class bands m the Dominion. Now there were at least eight, and the standard of music was very much higher. Therefore it was quito idle for the members of these bands which had been to the fore previously to imagine that they must always take first place. Captain Bentley pointed out that Sir Sutton, who had been brought out from Home to judge the Ballarat competitions, and who had afterwards been judge for a competition m the South, liad selected the same bands as winners m the A and B grades as had been successful m Auckland. He had never met Mr Sutton, but the fact that their adjudication agreed was, he considered, a sufficient proof that a proper decision had been made.

Captain Bentley said that he had reported the disturbance to the Association, and ha hoped tliat the offenders would be properly dealt with. He had the Advantage of a lencthy experience as adjudicator, and ,under no circumstances would he ( be bludgeoned into giving a -decision against his judgment.