CLAIMS TO STAGING OF N.Z. MARCHING EVENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5328, 14 February 1947, Page 5

CLAIMS TO STAGING OF N.Z. MARCHING EVENT

Some confusion has been caused by two organisations laying claim to the New Zealand interhouse girls' marqhing ehampionship this month. Wanganui is holding a "national ehampionship" on Saturday, and a similar meeting is to be held by the Hawke's Bay organisation at Tomoana Showgrounds the following week. A disagreement in the constitution of rules for the competition arose some years ago. Originally Wanganui moved for the formation of a national organisation to be kncwn as the New Zealand Marching and Recreational Assoeiation. The conference was attended by delegates from various centres. Wanganui opposed certain phases of the proposed constitution and immediately brcke away and formed N another organisation known as the New Zealand Marching Union. Although the Government, through the Minister of Internal Affairs, granted official recognition to the Recreartional and Marching- Associatio'n, the union set up by Wanganui has continued to operate. "There can he no question that we are staging the official New Zealand ehampionship on February 22 next," said an official of the Hastings interhouse committee. "We will be having 36 teams from, all parts of New Zealand attending this ccntest.' Competition will be for the Parry Shield, presented by the Minister." It has been stated that while the meeting in Hastings will be representative of the Dominion, the Wanganui contest will be limited mainly to the Wanganui district and a few teams from neighbouring parts of the North Island. «The Australian team, invited to New Zealand by the union, will also be taking part.