THE RECENT BAND CONTEST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18431, 15 March 1922, Page 3

THE RECENT BAND CONTEST.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —A few words in reply to the statements made by the Deputy-Mayor and Mr A. Wade, conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band, may not Ik? out of place in your paper. It is only to be expected that the townspeople and the Ga rrison Band would be downhearted at the result of the recent contest. as they have always believed that the Garrison Band was the best in the Dominion. To come back defeated certainly was a shock. To lake defeat gracefully does not seem to be the forte of the DeputyMayor or Mr Wade, that is, judging by their statements, for the DeputyMayor says that truthfully it might be said that the Woolston Band was 1 first, and the Garrison Band second, but that the same could not be said of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Band, which had imported some of its best talent from Australia. Certainly the same could not be said of the Waterside Workers’ Band, as it was not second or third —it was first. As to importing its best talent from Australia, it can only be said that it was the Garrison Band’s bad luck that they did not do likewise, as in the same issue of the paper known as the “Australian Bandsman,” in which the W aterside Workers’ Band advertised for players, appears the Garrison Band’s advertisement for trombone, baritone and other players. Mr Wade also stated that two of the Australian players wore on their way back, and possibly the others would soon follow. Avhich makes it appear that the Waterside Workers’ Band was mainly comprised of imported players. The total number of players who competed was twenty-five, comprised of twenty-two local men and three imported. Of the three Australian only one secured first prize in the solo events, whereas the local men secured first in the G Trombone solo and second in the soprano and tenor horn holos. Mr Wade’s remarks about the judge can only he described as very much out of place. Mr Wade has had experience in judging in Australia and in Now Zealand, find in neither countries has he given universal satisfaction. For instance, when he judged the Newcastle contest, Mr E. P. Kerry, conductor of the famous Newtown Band, took the stage and denounced Mr Wade’s judgments. for which ho was rightly forced to apologise. At the Nelson contest the usual amount of growling at the judge’s decisions was heard, and always will be heard at the finish of any contest. As to Mr Shugg’s competency as a judge, it need only be stated that he has judged twice in Sydney, twice in West Australia, and once at the famous Ballarat contests, and his band has won the last two contests at BaJlasrt. Now. Mr Wade is going to Australia to conduct a band for the Towoomba contest, and it is to be hoped that the Australians will not adopt a hostile attitude towards him or any players who may go with him from this side. Tn conclusion, sir, I hope that public men like the Deputy-Mayor will confine themselves to facts, and lie a little less one-eyed, and that Mr Wade will extend ’"hat “wonderful sympathy” that exists him and his band to all other bands.—T am. etc.. F. BOURKE, Secretary Waterside Workers’ Band. Wellington, March 10.