PIPING AT BAND CONTEST

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1931, Page 7

PIPING AT BAND CONTEST

ASSOCIATION SEEKS CONTROL TARANAKI UNION REJECTS OFFER. DISCUSSION OF ARRANGEMENTS. A suggestion that the control of the piping at the contest of the Taranaki Brass and Pipe Bands’ Union at Hawera in March should be assumed, by the Taranaki-Wanganui centre of the New Zealand Pipe Band Association was not favourably received when it was presented to a meeting of the union last night by a deputation from the centre. The meeting was held at ■Stratford and Mr. P. Skoglund presided.

It was decided to hold the contest as usual, the question of combined control to ■be reconsidered at a future conference between the centre and the Taranaki union.

The deputation consisted of Messrs. J. E. Campbell (Haweigi) and J. L. Campbell (Elbhamj. Mr. J. L. Campbell said his centre had previously considered holding a contest to include the Wanganui' and Taranaki bands but seeing that the union had provided competition for the Taranaki pipe bands at the union’s contests, the centre thought it would be better to combine with the union and to control the piping instead of trying to hold a separate contest for pipe bands.. Perhaps, he said, it was too late to make arrangements for this year’s contests.

It was not too late even now to adopt the suggestion, said Mr. J. E. Camp' bell. The position was that the association controlled all piping in New Zealand and it would like to take control of the piping in Taranaki and naturally to participate in the profits. ,He thought the association would devote any such profits to improving and strengthening the cause of pip® bands. NO PREVIOUS OFFER. The chairman explained that the union had held three contests and in the first place had (secured permission from two pipa band controlling authorities to affiliate the Taranaki pipe bands. This had been done but at none of the previous contests had the piping association offered to control the pipe band events. It had to 'be remembered, he said, that should the association control the piping the Elthani band would be able to compete, which would not be fair to the other bands as Elthani had refused to affiliate with the union. Wider interest would be taken in the contest were the centre to control the piping, said Mr. J. E. Campbell. Under such an arrangement the Wanganui band, which Artvs the champion of New Zealand, would be prepared to attend the contest.

Mr. W. Mills, Stratford pipe 'band, asked what hops the Taranaki bands would have against the New Zealand champion band. Mr. J. L:’ Campbell: The Wanganui band would bring only its second eight. Mr. N.. Watt, Stratford: I’ve heard that kind of tale before. ‘ The contests held under ’the union should be purely provincial in character, stated Mr. A. Rankin, New Plymouth.

Every band will have to send four parts of its score of the march to the secretary by March 6 so that he may forward them to the judge at least two weeks before the contest.

Mr. A. S. Kirkland, New Plymouth, was appointed judge of the pipe bands, which agreed to play Bonnie Dundee for the massed piece while Barron Rocks will be played by the massed pipe and brass bands. ,