THE BAND EPISODE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 6

THE BAND EPISODE.

DAY Of? SOME OLDBANDS DONE, i JUDGE'S LETTER. (By Telesraph,—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February 18. Tho recent band contest has caused some discussion, and 'tho' judge has been writing to' tho,' newspapers'. ■ The result of one letter.: was,.to cause'confusion as to tho Identity ; of .'a- certain band, and the judg'e ! was taken to task for that. . Ho writes ; 'in the "Herald*' this morning as follows: — "In case any misconception as to the •originators of tho band fracas on Saturday last should result,-' through the mention:.of the, Kaikorai, Band in my letter on tli» subject,. 1 would like to say that I merely, mentioned that band to emphasise ' the correctness of the judgments"of'Jlr. Sutton; at Invercargill and:iftVself at '■ Chris'tchurch and' Aucklaudi;,' /flio Eaikprai; Band were third to'Timaru, at Ihvercargill, and occupied tho. same, position.'li'ere'/'^and'l liaye shown' thefrVpositibri^relative. ; to tho 1 Wanganui;,Garrison..Band. _ 1 am quit© 'sure' ..that the of. this band would not descend .to-.such , paltry behaviour, and, although :tlicy might be disappointed at the result, they would take defeat/like men,-and strive to do. better noxt time. ■ The other band concerned in this unpleasant episode be-, longs to "a city Nearer. Auckland, and lias two rivals in the same citj\Thoy were dissatisfied with their position at Christchurch seven years ago, but have secured precisely • tho same position at 'Auckland. -Shall, wo call this another coincidence?' • '■* ' , The fact of the'matter (continues the judge) is that soino'of tho older bands of New. Zealand—so-called "cracks"— fail to realise ,the advent of younger and more virile organisations, who have havo the- benefit . of, inore up-to-dato training, and have been under better conditions than those prevailing ten or fifteen years ago. _ If band music is going* forward iii New Zealand, some bands must iiftturally go to the wall unless they find younger material and younger aud more energetic conductors. In proof of what I state, the soloists of tho Timaru and. the Hibernian Bands are all young men. The E flat soprano player of the Hibernian Band (who won the solo competition for that instrument) is only 16 years of age._ There are going to be some' fine organisations in New Zealand in the future, dnd those bands the ■ highest places at contests will- have fo. depend on som&thing more than a good tone -and a good reputation." • ■