AFFRONT TO A JUDGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 6

AFFRONT TO A JUDGE.

I BAND CONTEST.

STUDIED PUBLIC INSULT.

(By 'JMoßiapli..—Pxoss Association.}

Auo.ftland, February KJ, , bevera.l. of tho bands which comrifi*-e3 in the contest at the Exhibition "last week .expressed dissatisfaction with 'the judging of tho test selection .and ■quicksteps. This resulted in an imfortuiioti incident"on Saturday. At tiro conclusion ot tiie quicksteps in the cricket ground tho massed bands Were aniioutieed to play tho uiarcb "Imperaior" Wider tho baton of the judge (Captain BenUey). Mvo hand* Were fey■ nidssetf at the far end ot the c *j C lcct, ground and Hn-ept towards fho gianlstaivd, KWBHgo wiflnft oil tlieif instrui stand, baton m hand, sp.mo of the bands continued to play t,ine s that **««£ tamly not in. the music! of the march wiS? "f f s , Kslotci <M«'n' He.utloy motioned the bands into tho strauis ot. "Imperator," but presehtljr some swung off into other refrains till contusion became worse confounded, Uncot the Contest Committee, .appealed to the bandsmen to "play the game" arid not bo discourteous to the judge J hereafter the march was played t& cording to tho programme. The muster of the hands for tho eon* cert in tho Exhibition .Ground in the evening, was very disappointing, maiiy of tho bauds which had failed to win prizes absenting themselves. Tho reason' given by some of the men forehallehgll t S « th< J 3 ,ld ß*' s decisions is that some of the bands which were considered tlie oracle, bands of New Zealand have' .been; awarded, comparatively low maris-. .Muring an interview Sir. B'ehtioy. took' ocessmn to remark that his musical icnowlcdgo extended hack forty years, It was rather .idlo for .competitors 'who ■ had been perhaps only a few years studying rmlsic to question tho decision of a mau who had been educating himself musically far a lifetime. It was a. matter of opinion, but opinions on . mttsio ought to bo formed' on mature training and experience, not from a. little ■knowledgo of tho art. '. A- lfttlo knowledge in music was often a dangerous thing.