PIPE BAND CONTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 6

PIPE BAND CONTEST

MASTERTON NEXT YEAR DECISION BY DELEGATES PRELMINARY STEPS The annual meeting of the Welling-ton-Hawke's Bay Pipe Band Centre was held recently. The president (Pipe-Major T. G. Bodding) presided, and the following delegates were present: —Drum-Major M. R. Prict (Scots College Pipe Band). PipeMajor C. Stewart and M. G. Naismith (Wellington Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band), Major J. A. Bird (Wairarapa High School Pipe Band), Pipe-Major B. Peters, Drum-Major Sturrock and W. L. Sattrup tßuahine Pipe Band), Pipe-Major V. J. Nicholson, W. Allan, and G. R. Allan (Manawatu Scottish Society's Pipe Band), D. Fraser, G. Dick and L. Hopping (Feilding Pipe Band), J. W. Brown (Nelson Pipe Band!, and C. Stewart (Hunterville Pipe Band).

At the last annual meeting it was unanimously resolved to make a forward step in the interests of the pipe bands in the centre by the holding of a contest. The locality chosen was Palmerston North, and that the decision was a wise one, stated the annual report of the centre, was proved by the success of the gathering. Six bands entered, but unfortunately Feilding had to withdraw at the last moment, leaving the Manawatu Scottish Society, Scots College, Wairarapa High School, Wellington Caledonian Society, and Ruahine Pipe Bands to contest the honours. Ruahine Pipe Band secured the Monro Cup for tne highest aggregate points in the quickstep and test selection, and annexed the Manawatu-Wanganui Cup for the quickstep. This band also won the Wellington-Nelson Cup for the drummajor's display. The Wellington Caledonian Society's Pipe Band secured the Wairarapa-Hawke’s Bay Cup for the test selection. The reports stated that during the year the pipes and drums of the First Battalion the Wellington Regiment and the Hastings and District Scots Society's Pipe Band joined the centre. The Port Ahuriri Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band had intimated its intention of joining. During the year the boundaries of the centre were extended to include Wanganui the Wanganui Pipe Band becoming affiliated. The number of bands now attached to the centre was 12. The linances of the centre were in a satisfactory position as disclosed by the balance-sheet. The annual report and the balancesheet w'ere adopted unanimously. Major Bird complimented the Manawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band on their complete arrangements for the last contest. Drum-Major Sturrock added his appreciation, and a motion recording the centre’s special thanks was recorded. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —President, PipeMajor V. J. Nicholson; senior vicepresident, Pipe-Major B. Peters; junior vice-president, Mr. J. W. Brown; secretary-treasurer, M. Gray Naismith; executive, Pipe-Major C. Stewart, Pipe-Major T. G. Bodding, Drum-Major M. R. Price, Mr. I. D. Cameron, Mr. W. Allan and Mr. C. Stewart. The Wairarapa Scottish Pipe Band, stationed at Carterton, intimated that it was at present being formed, and asked for particulars of affiliation and other matters. The secretary said he had furnished the information and expected the band soon to affiliate. The Port Ahuriri Pipe Band had intimated its intention of joining, and in all likelihood the Police Pipe Band world affiliate. Th: greater part of the meeting was devoted to making preliminary arrangements for the centre contest. It was unanimously resolved that the contest should be held at Master-

ton in February, the exact date to be determined later, and that 10 per cent, of the profits should be allotted to the assiting band, 20 per cent, to the centre, and the remaining 70 per cent, should be divided among the competing bands. No entry fee is to be charged, but a band entering after the closing date will have a penalty fee of 10s.

The matter of handicapping the bands was discussed at length, and it was decided not to adopt the principle of handicapping. It was decided that the closing date of entries be a fortnight previous to the contest, and that competing bands forward copies of their music and the name of the tartan to be worn by the band. The order of events would be the quickstep, test selection and drummajors’ display. In the event of the entries being too large for the contest to be completed in the afternoon, the test selection will be held j:i the evening.