ONE MARCHING BODY FOR N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1947, Page 8

ONE MARCHING BODY FOR N.Z.

EFFORTS FOR AMALGAMATION In the course of an interview with a represen-cative of "The Chronicle" in Levin last. week, Messrs. G. S. Austad and K. W. Kilpatrick, chairman arid secretary of the New Zealand Marching and Recreational Association, imparted details of the progress made by their body in- seeking to bring about the amalgamation of the .two marching organisations in New Zealahd. "Headquarters of the Marching Union are at . Wanganui and they have not been what one wouid call a happy family for some time," said Mr. Austad, "as only recently the Queen Alexandra's Gwn Band in Wanganui stated in its annual report:' 'The executive is'no.t satisfied with the constitution of .the Wanganui Marching 'Association, and the incoming committee will have to consider either tightening the rules or withdrawing from cori-i trol and affiliatio'n." This brought forth a long letter from a coach of one of the teams and its publication let the public know all was not well with marching interests in Wanganui. • "The first knock. for the Marching Union occurred recently, when at its annual meeting the Feilding Marching Association, who had been affiliated to the union, decided to break away and apply for affiliation with the New Zealand Marching and Recreational Association. This robbed the union of five teams, and a further bombshell was landed in their midst when, at a meeting recently of the Marton teams, it was deeided to afHliate this year with the Manawatu Marching Centre, which is affiliated with the N.Z. Marching and Recreational Association, and has its headquarters at Levin. Criticism of the union was voiced by a Marton official who said the standard of marching at Wanganui' eompetitions was based on the military manual and that left t-hem in the dark, as military manuals are not on issue to marching teams. "The Marching Association, through its hancfbook setting out the various steps permissible, left no doubt in the minds of teams of what was expected of them, and of the basis on which judging was carried out," he said. "We could not let go unchallenged the claim of the union that the Fusiliers team was the champion team of N.Z. when it is merely the premier team of a minor organisation," continued Mr. Austad. "The management of national marching is officially under the control of one body only in New Zealand — the New Zealand Marching and Recreational Association, which is represented by 32 associations spr.ead throughout New Zealand from Kaitaia to Invercargill. .Under their constitution championships are held annually in different centres eaeh year, when each -district is represehted, and the winning team becoffifes the recognised New Zealand champion team for that particular season. "In the past ■ we have made repeated efforts to bring about a merger with the union, as also has the I'nternal Affairs Department through the efforts of the UnderSecretary, Mr. Harper, but the first intimation that such a meeting wouid take place was gleaned from a statement in the Press after lengthy newspaper correspondence from both sides, even though we asked for such a conference several months ago," said Mr. Austad. "We have evidenee that some of the teams are dissatisfied with the Marching Union and although we have kept anything savouring of unpleasantness out of our letters to .the Press, I atn sorry the same cannot be said for the spokesmen of the union," said Mr/ Kilpatrickt "The claim of Mr. C. T. Young, of the Marching Union, that an international contest was held at Wanganui between Fusiliers. (Wanganui) and Treloar's, the Australian ciiampions, was nothing else but an attempt to gull the public. An 'all Austfalian' contest was never held to select their representation. Treloar's arose from a small town, Tamworth, in north[>ern New South Wales, and were pitted against the selected team from contests held in Wanganui, which were limited to teams from nearby towns. It wouid take a very wide imagination to classify such a contest as international, and the public are entitled to protection from such imaginary propaganda. "As the result of the controversy in the Press we received an invitation from interested .personnel to visit Wanganui and address a public meeting. We have just left Wanganui and we are satisfied that even if the Wanganui Marching Association decides to stay affiliated to the union, the teams that will break away from that body will number at least seven, and they will form an association affiliated to the Marching and Recreational Association," concluded Mr. Kilpatrick.