EFFORT TO BE MADE TO UNITE THE TWO N. Z. MARCHING BODIES

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1947, Page 4

EFFORT TO BE MADE TO UNITE THE TWO N. Z. MARCHING BODIES

On the motion of Mr. W. D Young, seconded by Mr. D. A. Altnond, the New Zealand Marching and Recreation Association and the New Zealand Marching Union are asked to meet as early as possible with a view to amalgamation. This decision was reached at a public meeting held last night in th* Wanganui City Council Chambers, which was addressed by Mr. G. S. Austad and Mr. K. W. Kilpatrick (both of Wellington) chairman and secretary, respectively, of the New Zealand Marching and Recreation Association. Mr. A. C. Bourgeois presided. Mr. Austad said, there was very little separating the bodies and gave an outline of events dating from 1942 onwards. In outlining the functions and organisation or the New Zealand Marching and Recreation Association, Mr. Austad said it covered the whole of New Zealand, from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Thirty-two associations were affiliated to their body. At the last annual meeting 70 delegates were in attendance and it was agreed to place New Zealand into 19 centres. Mr. Austad made it clear that both he and Mr. Kilpatrick were there that night to see why the two bodies could not come together for the good of inarching in the Dominion. Mr. Kilpatrick said the associat: he represented provided a local competition, an inter-island cnampionship and a New Zealand championsfljp. The next North Island championship is to be held in Rotorua, and the South Island championsnip in Greymouth. The New Zealand championship had been allocated to Dunedin, which was holding a centennial next year. A member of the audience asked whether Mr. Austad and Mr. Kilpatrick had been invited to Wanganui by the New Zealand Marching Union. Mr. Austad replied that for years his body had been endeavouring to come and discuss matteis with the Wanganui body They had not been invited by the New Zealand Marching Union but by Mr. F. E. Gibbons and some others'associated with him. Mr. C. T. Young, of th" N.Z. Marching Union, said the meeting that night could not do anything official, as it was without the sanction of the Marching Union. He mentioned that Mr L. Wright, who was with the Fusiliers’ marching team in Australia. and himself, had been appointed to represent the New Zealand Marching Union at a conference with the New Zealand Marching and Recreation Association with a view to discussing their problems. Mr. Kilpatrick said that was th* first he had heard of it. Both Mr. Young and Mr. Almond said one New Zealand controlling body was desirable.