THE RECENT BAND CONTEST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18432, 16 March 1922, Page 6

THE RECENT BAND CONTEST.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—With your permission I should Like to reply to some of the misleading statements made by Mr Bourke, secretary of the Wellington Watersiders’ Band, which were published in your issue of yesterday. Mr Bourke objects to the statements made by the DeputyMayor and Air Wade, and sugests they cannot take a defeat. The statement made by the Deputy-Mayor was that he did not think the Wellington Water, siders’ Band entitled to consideration, as they had imported several players from Australia, especially to play with their band at the contest, whereas other bands competed with their own legitimate members. Air Bourke admits that these players were imported for the occasion, but insinuates that the Wanganui Garrison Band were practically trying to do the same, as they had an advertisement in the Australian Bandsman for playei’es. Now, sir, the position is this: The Watersiders imported three players of considerable repute as soloists from Australia. L’hese players arrived in New Zealand just two months before the contest, i'liis entitled them to play with the band at the contest, which'they did. A few days after the contest finished, these players left Wellington, eh route back to Australia. The cost of bringing these men from Australia, keeping them two months, and their expenses back again, must have been considerable. In reference to the Garrison Band advertising in the Bandsman for players, 1 might say they have done so on many occasions, when there have been vacancies in the band, but not for the purpose of engaging players to play at a ■ontest. If they could obtain billets for bandsmen at any time they would do so, and they would become members of the band in the ordinary way. I would ask Air Bourke, does he consider the position of the Waterside Workers’ Jand Has been improved by the recent contest; and can he take exception to .he public describing them as a packed iand when they resort to such methods. If the band turned out to-day, vhat chance would they have with thenpresent combination, to uphold their position as the champion band of the Jominion against the best band that ompeted in Wellington? With regard lo Air Wade’s remarks re the judge, 1 would like to point out that Air Wade .aid the judge did not fill the bill. If Mr Bourke will read the Dominion, published on Monday, 20th February lie will find that Air Shugg (the judge; admitted that he could not pick die bands in the Town Hall, and said uhat they all sounded practically the same, and the only time he could hear them distinctly was on the day of the marching in the open air. Can you wonder at any conductor saying the judge did not fill the bill, when he makes such an admission?' Why did he continue .judging from the same position after the first night when he found he could not hear distinctly? Many bandsmen will remember, in 1912, when Air Morgan, from the Old Country, was judging at the Christchurch contest, he shifted his box several times in the hall till he found a satisfactory position to hear from.

I will leave Air Wade to reply to Air Bourke’s remarks on the dissatisfaction expressed by bandsmen over his (Air Wade’s) adjudicating. I am quite prepared to admit that there is always “ growling” at any contest over the judge’s decision, but never at any of the nineteen contests I have attended, have I seen the look of astonishment which was shown by the large audience on the night of the second test, when the judge’s decision as announced. Air Bourke hopes that the Australians will not adopt a hostile attitude to Air Wade or any players who go with him from this side. I would like him to name one player who went witk Air Wad© from New Zealand. In conclusion, I would like to point out that the recent contest is not the only time that the Garrison Band has been defeated, but Air Bourke can rest assured that the Wanganui Garrison Band will continue to compete at these contests in the future, as they have done in the past, with none but legitimate members in their ranks, and if the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Band do the same. I am sure a far better feeling will exist between them and other bandsmen in the Dominion. —I am, etc., JOHN TRUSSELL.