PIPE BAND CONTEST IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 4

PIPE BAND CONTEST IN WANGANUI

TENTATIVE DATES NOTED FOR NEXT YEAR Tentative dates for the 1947 Dominion contest of the Highland Pipe Bands’ Association of New Zealand, to be held in Wanganui, were mentioned at a meeting last night of the executive committee of the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band which will organise the contest. It was suggested that the most suitable dates would be March 1 and 2 or March 8 and 9, a Saturday and a Sunday in each case. The secretary of the Highland Pipe Bands’ Association of N.Z., Mr. "H. Johnston, who is on a holiday visit, to Wanganui was welcomed by Mr A. McSkimming, president of the Wanganui band, who expressed appreciation of Mr. Johnston’s action in furnishing so much of the information required for the organisation of the contest. The prospect, of 10 or 11 A grade pipe bands and probably 20 B grade bands paitkipating in the contest was mentioned by Mr. Johnston, who said that in addition to Wanganui the A grade bands might include the Hamilton. Ruahine, Hawera, Wellington Caledonian, City of Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Burns bands, and probably Invercargill. Included among the B grade bands likely to attend were New Plymouth, Hutt. City of Wellington, Wellington Regimental, Hastings, Eltha.m, Tauranga, Whakatane. Nelson, Temuka, Auckland, Rotorua, Morrinsville and Te Aroha, as well as five college bands, which might be classed as C grade.

Indications were given that a sum of £5OO might he needed to cover prize-money and contest expenses, and lhe meeting suggested that guarantees for £250, sufficient, for the purpose, would be readily forthcoming. If some 30 bands take part in the contest, said Mr. Johnston in an interview after the meeting, it would be onp of the largest ever held in New Zealand. There were, he said, 70 pipe bands formed and registered in New Zealand, with about 1140 bandsmen. out of a world total of 1500 pine bands and 22.500 bandsmen. The 1948 contest would be held at Dunedin to mark the province’s centennial year, he added. Mr. Johnston also intimated that lhe North Island vice-president. Mr. lan Cameron, of Mauriceville, had reported at a meeting of delegates at Timaru that the president, Mr. G. M. Telfer. and ho intended to approach the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, Io see if pipe bands could import tmiforms, bagpipes and reeds. The Piping and Dancing Association and the Highland Pipe Bands’ Association were working in active co-operation 1 o furlhei• thoir mutual 'nt< > ts k