ENTRY FOR BAND CONTEST

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1934, Page 17 (Supplement)

ENTRY FOR BAND CONTEST

HAWERA MISUNDERSTANDING. WORDING IN REPORT ALTERED. Exception to a statement in the annual report of the Taranaki Brass and Pipe Bands’ Union was taken at the annual' meeting of the union at Stratford last night by representatives of the Hawera band after the president, Mr. P. Skoglund, gave an explanation in respect of remarks reported in the Press as having been made by the conductor of the Hawera band, Mr. H. C. A. Fox. The statement in question which appeared in the Press as being made by Mr Fox was: “The senior band was invited to play at the Manaia contest by the committee, but the competing bands refused to allow this. The junior band rehearsed right up to the Saturdav preceding the contest and the players were disappointed when they found they were unable to compete, seeing that the boys were all from nine to 16 years of age.” “I give the statement regarding _ the invitation to Hawera a direct denial,” said the chairman. “The Hawera senior band was never invited to play at Manaia. Mr. Rodie, of the Manaia contest committee, received an offer from the -Hawera band to play and advised the secretary (Mr. H. Burmester) and myself of the offer. After we received the message we were telephoned by the late prsident of the Hawera band, who said Hawera was prepared to go to Manaia and suggested that a portion of the travelling expenses should be borne by the contest funds.” Mr. H. N. Lester (Hawera): That is incorrect. The president was told, the chairman continued, that no expenses could be allowed and then he asked if the junior band could be strengthened with A grade players. Mr. Lester: That is not correct Mr. ‘ Lester asked for the letter in which the Regimental Band resigned to be read. The secretary said he had not the letter with him and Mr. Lester asked why reference was made in the report to the Regimental Band. “That was an error,” said the chairman, “and you can move that it be deleted.”

Mr. C. J. Roberts, Hawera, explained that Hawera sent a band of boys to the Dominion contest at Wellington to compete in the boys’ class in the open solo. They were the players whom Hawera wanted to send to Manaia, where they were fully entitled to compete. They were not members of the senior band then and were not now.

“The message as we received it referred to senior men, though it appears the Hawera president really meant the boys who went to Wellington,” the chairman said. “That was where the misunderstanding arose, but it was not our fault.”

Mr. Roberts: This annual report has been published in the Daily News and read by many people at Hawera, who will have the impression we have tried to build up the boys’ band with A grade players.

The chairman: This discussion will be reported in the Press, but I would not agree to total deletion of the statement in question because it is et out in accordance with the message we received. “Cannot ■an amendment be carried so that the statement regarding the Hawera band shall be altered to state that ‘owing to a misunderstanding the Hawera Auxiliary Band did not play at Manaia,’ ” asked Mr. P. Thomson. • The chairman: That could be done. Mr, Dixon, not being au fait with the rules, asked for senior players. The request we received was could the band be built up by senior players and naturally, we refused. I am prepared to have the report altered as long as it does not put Mr. Burmester or me in the wrong because we did not misunderstand the question; Mr. Dixon misunderstood the situation.

“There is no need to introduce the personal side,” Mr. Lester objected. The chairman: Well, if you put “owing to a misunderstanding,” it is a reflection on us. It was decided to delete the reference to the New Plymouth Regimental Band and the reference in the report to: “The Hawera ' Auxiliary Band, not being allowed its request to build up from senior ranks, withdrew from the contest,” to be amended to: “Owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding at Hawera, etc.”