NONE EQUAL TO N.Z. DRUM-MAJORS’ DISPLAY. SAYS CANADIAN EXPERT

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1947, Page 4

NONE EQUAL TO N.Z. DRUM-MAJORS’ DISPLAY. SAYS CANADIAN EXPERT

Standard of music and drill at the pipe bands’ national contests, which concluded in Wanganui on Sunday was the highest he had ever hoard and seen in any country. Druin-Major T. Stewart, drum-major oi the Fort William Ladies’ Pipe Band and of the Fort Arthur Men’s Pipe Band, told the “Chronicle” in an interview. Drum-Major Stewart has participated in many contests in his long service with pipe bands and has seen contests in America and Scotland, in addition to Canada. ‘•Nowhere else in the world, not even Scotland, can you see a sight such as the drum-majors’ display," he declared. “We have nothing like this in Canada. We lack the two things you are lucky to possess in this country—the weather and th® enthusiasm.”

The drum-majors’ display particularly impressed Mr. Stewart, who recalled that the first time he saw such a display was eight years ago at Christchurch, when he was making a brief visit to this country.

“It certainly must take a Jot of perseverance to attain drilling of such high standard,” he enthused, “and nowhere else in the world have I seen bandsmen with the patience to learn this display work.” The music was outstanding, Mr. Stewart opined, and he had never encountered a band with such perfection in playing as the City of Christchurch In scoring 99 points out of a possible 100 in the A grade selection. Staff-swinging of New Zealand drum-majors was not as breath-taking as that oi American drum-majors, who specialised more in this type of work and used special small, light staffs, he commented.

Mr. Stewart arranaged his tour of New Zealand so as to be in Wanganui for the contests and is very satisfied that he did as he was treated to a spectacle the like of which he had neyer seen before. z