THE LATE BAND CONTEST.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12427, 28 March 1908, Page 5

THE LATE BAND CONTEST.

Dispute About a Prize.

(Pflr United Press Association).

IsEW PLYMOUTH, March 27.

The Wanganui Garrison Band is threatening legal proceedings to recover the medals which were awarded to the Auckland First Battalion Band on a protest in connection with the trio competition at the recent contest. The Wanganui representatives were placed first by the judge, but were disqualified by the Association on the ground that they played the same piece as at Christchurch, where they also won. The medals were then awarded to Auckland, who came second. It is a rule of- the North Island Brass Bands Association that three years must elapse before the same piece can ..<ain be rendered by the winning band.

[In connection with the above matter it may explained that the rule — or supposed rule — uuder which it is sought to disqualify the Wanganui Band's trio, was proposed and adopted at a meeting of the Executive of the North Island Bands Association, held in Wangauui after Aie contest here, but was never incorporated in the by-laws, which were published later on. The - Wanganui bandsmen .raise the question as to whether a minute so far back overrides the by-laws. Quite apart from that aspect of the question, we believe we are correct in stating that mere have been innumerable cases where the rule has been broken, and the action takeu by the Executive in the matter of disqualifying the successful competitors. As a matter of fact, ir may be mentioned that Guthrie, of the loctl band, who was awarded second place in the BB flat solo, played the identical piece with which he won first prise at Chrisrehurch last year, and that when he heard .of ihe disqualification of the local *rio he offered to hand the medal he won at New Plymouth back to the Executive, but they refused to take it. It would be interesting to know why they are making fish of one and flash of another .—Ed . W.H.]