BAND CONTESTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 35, 10 February 1934, Page 8

BAND CONTESTING

BIG UPLIFT POSSIBLE COMPETITION WITH AUSTRALIA MR. J. CRICHTON’S SUGGESTION Air. J. Crichton, who was a successful conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band for many years, has made a suggestion that steps be taken to establish annual contests between the brass bands of New Zealand and Australia. Discussing the matter with a “Chronicle” reporter yesterday, Air. Crichton said that if such contests were brought about, they wouVt mean a big uplift in the standard of brass band work in both countries. Some prominent Dominion leader might be prevailed upon to donate a trophy, which would go with the blue riband of the band world in Australasia and would become a prize worth winning. “It will be many years before this country and Australia will be able to maintain fully-equipped military bands,” said Air. Crichton, “and the best thing we can do is to perfect our brass band work. After all, a good brass band provides the people’s music, and there is nothing better to listen to. I have had the idea for a long time that it would help a lot IT the best bands of this country and those of Australia competed for an Australasian championship. It would have io be a condition that the contest be held alternatively in the Dominion and the Commonwealth. ’ ’ Mr. Crichton in his younger days was one of the leading brass band conductors in Australasia, and no hart a long record of successes with the Garrison Band. He is a life member of tho Brass Bands Association, and when the annual meeting is held in Wellington he intends to propose the interchange of visits between tiie Do minion and the Commonwealth.