BAND CONCERTS AND JUDGING.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12635, 23 March 1905, Page 3

BAND CONCERTS AND JUDGING.

To the Editor of 'tbe "limaru Herald." Sir,—l noticed a letter in your paper from-Mr G. -B. -Laidlaw, conductor of tlie Kaikorai Band, complaining about the judgirlg at the Auckland Band Contest. lie also suggests a -judge from Knellor Hall, England. We Had one man from Great- Britain, nanle'y;,'J. Old Hume, who acted as judge at.Mastertou, and what was the result' lue contest nearly came to an untimely end--before.- the >econd selection was- playedi andi -wlio swas tne -most; bitter growler at that contest? 'ihe very same conductor—ill- G. J>. -Lajdlaw. Will Mr Laidlaw kindly tell bandsmen what experience h-e had with -brass.'band contests? Has he had as much' as Mi -KingThe fact of the matter is the; Kaikorai Band expected to wipe Hie iluor witli the other bamls. and instead of doing- that, they hud to take a< third-Kite position; which must have been very galing to -thenf^aftei--the. result was announced. Perhaps Ml Laidlaw might offer his services for the next contest as ijudge, just to show bandsmen how a band ought to bo judged. I would advise Mr Laidlaw to study; King's remarks in Hhe-'"Canterbury' Times," re his method of judging; As far as Mr King's ability to judge a contest is concerned, the Iv'ew Zealand bands have derided that by selecting him. as judge by-a-b.il!ot of the competing 1 lands, not onlv oncty but several times. I :>ni. 'etc.i i CLAUDE J. DAVIE. Timaru, March 20th. . " [We Have excised personal which. have- no bearing on the matter under discussion.—Ed: T.B.]-.