PIPING AND DANCING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 22

PIPING AND DANCING

WELLINGTON CENTRE' v

A meeting of the executive of the Wellington" Centre of the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand was held at Palmerston North on Saturday evening, when there were present Messrs. C. Stewart, sen. (chairman), ABarclay, C. Stewart, jun. (Wellington), Alastair McDonald, V. J. Nicholson (Palmerston North), T. S. Arcus (Carter.ton). R. J. Glasgow (Turakina), and M. Gray Nasmith (secretary). Applications for affiliation''to the centre were granted 'to the 'Wairoa County Agricultural and' Pastoral Society, Turakina Caledonian Society, Martinborough Amateur Athletic and Horle Sports Club, Wellington ' Caledonian Society, Rangitikei - Scots Society, and Oroua Downs Sports Club. Permits were issued to the following societies to hold competitions:—Turakina Caledonian Society,. January 29; Horowhenua Agricultural and Pastoral Society, January 29; Wairoa County Agricultural and Pastoral Society, February 2; Rangitikei Scots Society, February 5; Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, February 16; Oroua Downs Sports Club, February 26

The^secretary,reported that-the D6 T minion council of-the association had | allocated the following championships: Turakina Caledonian Society, North Island championship for-march playing, all comers, any; age, North Island championship fling, all coiners, 14 years and tinder 16, boys and girls; New Zealand championship sword dance, all comers, 16 years and over, males and females. Rangitikei Scots Society, North Island championship lament playing, 'all comers., Orbua Downs Sports Club, North Island championship Highland reel, all comers, any age or sex.

The secretary pointed out that unregistered competitors would not be allowed to compete at any gathering. It was resolved that competitors taking part in a gathering for which no permit had been granted would be disqualified and liable to be debarred from again competing at any registered gathering.

The'issuing of certificates of competency for teachers of piping and national dancing was discussed, and it was decided to recommend to the association that teachers who desired to secure such certificates should apply direct to'the association, which would use its discretion in granting applications. . . : .

The holding:of a tap dance amongst the national dances at a recent meeting was brought up, and it was considered such a practice should be discouraged. When tap dances were introduced on a programme, it e was stated, the gathering lost its Scottish atmosphere.