BAND CONTESTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 56, 8 March 1946, Page 4

BAND CONTESTS

SOUGHT BYWANGANUI PUBLIC MEETING PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR PLAN

Strong representations to have Wanganui chosen as the venue of the 1947 Now Zealand Brass Bands Championships are to be made at the Dominion conference of the Brass Bands' Association at Christchurch shortly. Enthusiastic support for the idea was given at a meeting held in the City Council Chambers yesterday and Messrs. E. W. F. Gohns, Queen Alexandra’s Own Band, and H. J. Hall, Garrison Band, were authorised, on behalf of Die city, to press Wanganui’s claims to have the next contest held here. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. E. W. Merewether, presided over a representative gathering of business men, city councillors, local body members and supporters of local bands. He apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., who was out of town on Important City Council business. Mr. Merewether said that Mr. Rogers had asked him to say that he would support, m every way possible, the proposal to have the next contests in Wanganui. Mr. Merewether said that in 1929 a very successful contest had been staged here, and he felt sure that they could make it even better next year. They wanted Wanganui's representatives at the Christchurch conference to know that they had the support of everybody in the city in applying to have the contest held here next year. “I don't suppose that any city in New Zealand has done as much as was accomplished in Wanganui during the February Carnival.” Mr. Merewether added. “I doubt if any city could excel it. We can do great work in Wanganui and I am sure everybody will support the idea of having the band contest here.” Mr. Gohns said that the 1929 contests in Wanganui were as successful as any which had ever been held in New Zealand, and everybody had worked together for its success. Every visitor had gone away with the impression that Wanganui was a fine. place and they would do their best to repeat the atmosphere. MAY BE COMPETITION The Bands’ Association had been in recess during the war until the end of last year and there would probably be . several applications from other cities and towns to have the 1947 contest. Mr. A. R. Donaldson moved that an application be made to have Wanganui made the venue of the 1947 band contest and that the delegates be asked to press for this. Mr. Donaldson recalled that the 1929 contest had resulted in a profit of £9OO. He wa» sure Wanganui would welcome another band contest.

Mr. G. P. Hawkins seconded the motion. Regarding accommodation, the town clerk, Mr. C. R. White, said that 25 bands had competed at the 1929 contest here, but 37 were competing In Christchurch this year. The Wanganui Licensed Victuallers' Association had considered the question and believed that licensed hotels could accommodate at least 400 bandsmen. He thought that there would be about 1000 bandsmen here for the contest. Mr. I. Brown said that on their previous experiences he felt sure that the organising committee would be able to find lodgings for all the visitors. On Mr. Brown's motion the meeting carried a resolution guaranteeing the provision of all necessary accommodation should the contest be held Jm Wanganui. I Mr. Merewether said that the matter of the £5O guarantee had already been provided for. “If we are successful in getting the contest we should not delay in setting up our committees," Mr. Merewether added. “If we start to organise right away there will be no doubt of our success."

Mr. White told the meeting that the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band had been offered the opportunity of organising the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in Wanganui next year and had offered to arrange Its dates so that they would not clash with the brass band contest. Mr. Gohns said that the usual procedure was for brass band contest* to be held first, followed by the pipe band one. The brass band contest should be held not later than the last week in February. On the motion of Mr. E. A. Millward. the meeting wished the Garrison Band and the Queen Alexandra's Band the best of luck at the contest, which opens on Sunday, March 17.

NATIONAL CONTESTS THIS MONTH -4 ENTRIES IN ALL GRADES The first national brass band contest to be held by the New Zealand Bands’ Association since the outbreak of war in 1939 is to begin at Christchurch on Sunday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), when, appropriately, the hymn test will take place. Following are the entries (37 in all) for the various grades:— A Grade: St. Kilda Municipal, Invercargill Civic, Wellington Watersiders’ Silver, Queen Alexandra (Wanganui), Wanganui Garrison. Woolston (Christchurch), Wellington Municipal Tramways, Palmerston North Garrison, and Kaikorai (Dunedin). B Grade: Auckland Watersiders* Silver, Green Island Municipal, Westport Municipal, Gore Municipal, Christchurch Municipal, Nelson Garrison, Lower Hutt Civic, Hawera Municipal, Blenheim Regimental, Taranaki Regimental, Mo.ueka Municipal, Ashburton Silver, Palmertson North City Silver, Masterton Municipal, Lower Hutt Municipal, Wellington Boys’ Institute, and Hamilton Citizens. C Grade: Auckland Watersiders’ Junior, Patea Municipal, Rangiora (Canterbury), Crichton Cobbers’Club Band. Lyttelton Marine. Dunedin i Ladies’, Wellington Boys’ Instituted (junior), Temuka Municipal, Brunner and Caversham (Dunedin). This will be the first occasion when a women’s band will take part in a brass band contest. The quickstep contests will take place in Lancaster Park. The adjudicator, Mr. E. P. Kerry, of Sydney, is due to arrive in Auckland on March 13, and will reach Christchurch on March 15. He was last in New Zealand in February, 1938. when he judged the brais band contest held in Pclmerston North.