NORTH ISLAND BRASS BAND ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 60, 29 February 1908, Page 6

NORTH ISLAND BRASS BAND ASSOCIATION.

A.\M Al. MKKILM.. The annual no-cliny of the North Inland Hr.i— Kind Association was held ou Thm-day ewning. Mr. .M. Cohen, president, wupi'd the «hah. and lit-i'e Were about i> pre-. nlati\e.s o| pr.iriirally all tin- band in ilic Dominion. in attendance. The Mayor ot New IM\month (Mr. K. iKn-krilli >\,i- a!-<» pre->»nt. KEI'OKT AM) ISA I.AM I, MiKKi.

The report 'Wi. presented: -Your e\ecu'« iw ua- nin.-h ph-a-nre in presenting tiie .-h-Tenth annual rep.ol and balaiu-e-Im . t ;oi the \«\»r ended 11HW, the jM-t year liLi\in» been the most sUcc.'-«ihl in it- aun.iU. Tin* Association i- ~ii 11 in -ound linamiil , state, and i- continually in** in 1.1vor with The Vmh an.l South Maud Until". and we aie plea-ri to -ay U receiving their htarty support. Tin- membership ha* now increased to jitty live affiliated band-, ali uf whom have re- ; preventatives pre-ent to uke part in the contest, nth. r >\i:!< the band or as solo Nts or delegate* to the conference, We desire- to v.vh-nwe ir rank- i!i<' Matum bra-.- W.in i. whi -li U.i- »<vn 'it fc to join our A—"-iat ion. \\*- tnd -n.'f- I this band will receive mi education at. j this content such a- it would ne\Cr jxt by remaining outside the Association. Your executive desire to expre-s their deep regret at the numerous letters of correspondence that have been printed in liic New Zealaiit Kiiultiuun, condemning the method of appointing judge-. We quite agree that our rules are not quite perfect, but they are exactly what the members have made them from time to time, and sincerely trust that souie recommendation wiH be bruugiil down at this meeting whi-it will entirely obuale lUe necessity of further critittoUi> 011 the method 01 appointing musical judges tvr contest. \Vo are sorry that we have not with u» at this cOnteat the Wanganui Harrison, Wellington Uar and lvaikoiai jtr*r? Bands. Ihe-?e bands have always created, a great deal of enthu-ia=ni, and have b«i ua a musical standard all junior bauds may look up to. Wc al?o mihs flow Uiis contest tlie Kuahine Battalion fanJ, under Conductor La wren jo, ttpii. |?e'ng one ot the oldest contesting j fan*!* We trust we shall soon aee them baek in the field again. He "A' and grades.—Thia is the lirst year thai the bands have competed under the above heading. It had been placed witiiin the reach of the "B" grade bands to secure a shield kindly donated by Messrs Boosey and of Ixmdnu. While the prize money is not so large as your executive would like to have seen it, still we must look to this lact, 1 that the local committee lias a very great expense in providing cajj prizes and trophies for large a number oi soloists, and the inauguration of the "li* 7 grade ha> made all additional amount of prize money that no other local committee ha- had to face in the past. While we have graded the bandwith a view of giving letter facilities for obtainiug prizir- by the junior l»i>nds J it has considerably enhaiicea the liabilities of the local committee. However, the thanks of the Association are due to the local contest .ommittee for the amount of interest they have taken over this matter, and aNo to the towns- • people for the kindly support they have

tended the committee in helping to make what we believe will be one ot the liiie-t contents we hive attended. We also thank the New Plymouth Uorough Council lor kindly throwing open the public baths for the benefit of the bandsmen during thei- *tay in New Plymouth; aUi to the local teunis aud bowling dubs i«r so kindly tendering the use of their court- and greens respectively during our short slay. The financial outlook of the Association, we feel sure, will give renewed confidence to everyone and act a* a stimulus to future effort-. After all expen>»-s have been paid, the executive have a larger surplus than ha* ever previously l*e. n chronicled. Vour executive now ui-!i to commend to this meeting the eu refill consideration of the following matters: : —ill The method of electing judges (musical \ in future: the method jof competition for "A ? ' and "B" grades

in future: the advisability of altering the marching rule*: <Jj the advisability of setting up a -peiial ro.limit tee for the purple :»i waiting .>u the Minister lor R;iiHa\- with a view* of getting further ton-.'—ion- to ban i -

men vi-iting N.1.1V11.A. rontr-t. h may not be generally known, bur we beiie»e the New* Zealand Government grant free passe* to all firemen attending

the (ire brigade competition- held under the au-pice* of the I'nited Tire Brigade. We think our claim ean be generally established when wv lake into consideration the enormous amount of revenue that i* paid in duty on the imported musical instruments bioitgh"

into tlii* Dominion. If such coinmitteis set up we have no doubt, should proper recommendation be made to the Minister, ami out; case properly stated, due consideration will be given to the matter. Our Association is represented now by bands in almost every town in New Zealand, and. as above stated,

if the ca=e N placed before the representative; of Parliament, we cannot help but receive the support this Association so richly deserves. Your committee again wish to thank the manager of the New Zealand Kailwav?, the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Co., the manager of the Union S.S. Co., and the Northern S.S. Co. for the reduction in fare> conceded 10 lwnd>raeu travelling to the contest. We desire to heartily thank the vice-president- of the Association for their valued iinancial assistance, and also the affiliated bands for their courtesy to us, and hope to be privileged to enjoy same in the interests of the Association. Application ha* been received from Mr l\ J. Thompson, Mayor of Hastings, forwarding guarantee li-t and cheque tor £25, asking that thN meeting will grant theui permission to hold the 11RM) contest in that town. A" this band has heartily

supported th*» A>*oeiation for a number of years now we tWI -Hire that you wiU agree Hut the Hastings towuspeop.e hate a ju>t claim. In their report, they advi-e that they had C3IU guaranteed on the 27th Kebruary, 104>8; 7o guarantor?. They aNo advise that the Having- Borough Council ha- decided ;o give their h»\nty -upport. The town i« admirably equipped for -uch a content and ean offer tir-t «-ia-- acromnndation i«»r band-men. lienilenien. we leave tin- matter in your hand-, and feel -ur<* that you will give thi- problem due consideration. Vour exetjtive have much pleasure in submitting for your <-.»n-ider:>tion the following notice of motion by our worthy president. Mr. M Cohen:—"That the N.l.ft.H.A.. at i;- next meeting, the advisability of enlarging it- -cope

so a* to render po>-ibl" the e-tabli-h ment of a competitive convention on the llallar.ft Kisteddiod ami tie* Tnouoomha K'-ti\.i!.' ; Vn:ir executive regreithat I'an liua-t- i < iii iit«»n. oi the \\ a nganui <..irri-«"H M'ud. b.«- bv»-n -erioa*»V ilMl-l"-c.i ]..»• -oiite T. I >!!;-. Tlli-

ha- undoum *il!v }■: I'wnte.l tie- Waipja* nui Cam-on Kiel from atr«*nding th" c-nte-i. \\> -inccielx ini-i that JSanl-ma-tci- ( riehtou ui!l -onn In- re-tor.-d

• imwl it!i. \\i- al-o tin* Hiddtn d-atli or liiMi'l-mim Kami'. hue of tlic W.MijMniii l.«mi-on ll.iml. and hiil'-ilv ..I* ili»- fl.irri-m ll.ni'l. Bandsman ua- ;»n old and cMiipft'-d in tht* troinl>nn« -010 t■ • r a of now. \\V -In!! rlli - - li i- M,-.. :r..,u h-

foUte-»T ii«M. Ill' W;l- it -|m}( and nn i-r i«- l';ind-m;iii. Tin* foin-

;tMil hi nuulupio]] ]tnp ( . that tlic A$ n nil! let\-• ,» -lili mon- pro-por-on- iiii.i t" -hi- i»?id tlis* nih-» «f <•>f.ry ollk>T ;>»id Uiikl-huji iinvoki-»

tin moving' tin' a.lo|iti"il of i 1... re port 1111.1 balance -lieet. Mr. Cohen Kinjrr.itulat v.l llie i-'tion oil til" healthy -tat.' r.f (lie finances sln»vi»« a I <a!.i !)<•• in !i-ml -r a:> 7. Sp,.akin? iv•r.irdinjr tlio w i \v Manaia Rand, tin* la!-<->t M Uu» Society's rank-, lit* -aid th-ir jJwk and imln>lrv do-Tv-c! i\w lii-IM-st coimH.'iHlation. and if tie-iv-uU uf tlio A-ociati(»n> activity w-i

-m-li a- t'» aliout tliis «ort of tliin.ir. llim. )w f'-H tli.it its « xi-ti'nf»' Amply jii-l il.- would like to siy that thi-i l>.ind. ]o\v on t)u> !i-t in ord"r in. lit !iar| rown-d witli .nid h«* tiu-t«>d it- e!T"rt would lit- -Ml v\;lili|»ii- to ;|!l l»rn\Un^ \\!:iril in- ui;h I ajnonnt dilii'l<n«i'. -nd for tin- jii . itnr ill !i: - < \|« •: u■■■. . r;i < t!..* A--oci.itio„ ]„■ N.id to -1n1... di--*'-ordanf not<'. r". f r ! t.-d \.-n n.r.b I>> -I;-.! !*'» ( 1 i-.n .„.0,-. r tin* -i*riior i» ni'l-. of tl.o- ( >. *n' COiir-M'. ivoi.l'i fo !.<• ii,-«-o'v»rK :i- ninortunatf nad ii'H n.ad»' it jif<--ildi* for thi-rn '<> lio f at tliU f«»Iltr-t. \i>lalilv i)i<» (inrri-oii Riiml the iliuv-s uf it; conductor could u<jt

be here; the Wellington hand, mvi»» to the appointment of its conductor as judge found itself in a like portion. | tint tin* Kaikorai Hand had., h,* ih>»n^lil. j acted in such a manner as to .justify ! some comment from him as head of die Association, The merits or "demerits 01 Kaikorai'n grievance did not, concern him. Xo doubt they were entitled under certain condition*, to enter a pro- ! list in urdi'v to ventilate any j*rieiani*e j they have, hut then' w.:s a lime and a place lor nil tiling*. and he regret- | it'll that a >enii>r and distin^iii-h.d band | hail acted in what In* considered an im 1 proper manner. Had KaikoraiV objection been made on the nomination of the judjre if. would not perhaps n;iv»* been out of place, Iml to h;i\e awaih-d the result of the election and then expressed disapproval did not mmr uiihin'j Irne sportsmanship. Another point h-' had lo make was in connection witli t!»* attitude of bandsmen towards content committee*, lie had .sincerely to note letter- written in a spirit v\!ii; h should not exist. The older member of the Association who had with himself and lii« colleagues brought li through times of stives and troubh' to its present position—through limewhen they practically h , { J to ok on their knee- to tind a town wiili enterprise enough to invite them to hold a eontot could not forget ih.- lownwhich had a»i-ted theui. and lie fell thai the A--0.-iaiion wa- und«-r a deep debt of gralilllde to the lOltte-l cum,nil tee and tlie inhabitants of any town which honored them with ::n imitation, and that any effort 011 the part of band-men to ,-eeond the endeavors and I foster the interests of the contest com- : jnittee was not too much in view of the many'serious obligations they were under to those wflo underwent the worry of getting a contest through. Hi- Imped that a feeling would prevail such as he had indicated when he said that lit" Association was a debtor to thoSe gt»uerous hearted and enterprising communities which took the burden upon their shoulders. Many important considerations would come before the meeting, a* to the place of the next contest ami the further development of the A and B grade scheme. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

1901) CONTEST. A letter was received t ivm Ihe Mayor of Hastings requesting that the liWl) band contest be held in that town. A guarantee of AM 10 was assured. The question of suitable accommodation was raised, and Hastings delegate* pointed out thaf suitable accommodation was available for 13 or 11 band*. It was decided that the request be acceded to.

An application from the Mastcrton Band to play auother man in the 2nd test selection in place of Bandmaster K. McLeod, who had been overtaken by illness, was agreed to. The Secretary was instructed to write a letter of sympathy to Bandmaster Mcleod.

ELECTION OF OKFIC'KItS. 'lhe election »t officers resulted: Patrons, Lord Pluukel anil Sir J»»f|>h Ward; president, -Mr. .M. (,'olien (reelected); vice-presidents, same a- l:i~t year, with the addition of I'. W. Water*. Hazel Jones (1 lasting, and T. .1. Thompson (Mayor of Hasting:,): secretary, .Mr. E. li. B. Uoiben (re-elected); treasurer, Mr. C. Wader; executive committee, Messrs. A. linker. Kuijjht. McU'od, Lieut. Herd, .loiies. Sharpe. T, Dulison, Sergeant-Major Amler-on. Anderson, Muir; auditor, Mr. liutherforl: oliicial timekeeper, Mr. .1. I). Iluiiler (Umiediitl: assistant timekeejier. Major Dunk iPa linerst on North I: tnwtee*. iles,r>. liiehardson. .lan<en. Hail! (reelected I. .

UKNKIUL. The Pre>ideutV notice ui motion thai the N.J.IUI.A. discuss at tiiis meeting the advisability of enlarging it* *copo so as lo render possible Ihe establishment of a competitive convent ion on the lines a o successfully instituted by the liallarat Kisteddfod and tlie Toouoomba Festival was witlidrawn after brief discussion.

it was resolved that the rule* and regulation* be revised and reprinted. J lie Manaia Hand delegate mov-d that there be a separate pib:e for " H'* glade hands in the quickstep competition. lie thought the existing conditions unfair.—lt was decided to refer the matter to the executive with a recommendation that lliere i> a de*irahilitv to have condition* altered.

The Ma-terton delegate moved: "Thai any band wlm-h i- atliliated with the .V1.11.1'.A. In* allowed the service* of oiii* prolWioiial pla\er lor < .>ni«-min;:. >ui-h professional to be a boua-lide meinber of any band guided by the rule* of the N.1.1i.1i.A. --The delegate wished to withdraw the term "proft*>ional," but, on licing rctencd to tinmeeting. this wa-: refused ami Ihe motion lapsed. The Palmerston North delegate moved: "That no member or conductor of any band belonging to the X.IJJJJ.A. shall }»e eligible for the portion of judge." After considerable <li-eu**io?i the motion put and 10-t.

The I'almerslon North delegate !*il: - That in Jill future conii'-m the method of electing the judge he done ill t\vu ballots/' This was taken in conjunction with the Lyttelton Marino Hand's motion: "For selecting judges, in our opinion, we arc in favour of an absolute majority/' Tin- i'alincr.>Uui North motion was withdrawn in favour of that of the Lyttelton Hand, the latter being carried. The Palmerston North delegate moved: "That in all future eontesU the 'A' and 'B' grades play together;' After much discussion it wa> decided that grade> be sectionised and separate ie?>l selections be given for each grad-'. The Woolston delegate moved: * TJi.»• in all future contests only soloists actually playing in the band contest shall Ik; eligible to play in solo competitions.*' It was pointed out tlia-t il was unfair lor a player who had to take part in quartettes, trios, quickstep*, and other '-ompctitious to have to compete with a soloist who had no other competition to play in. In working up for a contest the soloist in a non-playing band had much the better chance. The motion was put and carried. '1 he Auckland Mounted I'eginiental Band delegate moved: "That in future marching competition*, under the auspices of Die Association, *hall bt> conducted under the scheme brought for ward by Sergt.-Major Shepherd" ■-Hesolved that rules be returned to Sergt.Major Shepherd. The Marlon Jiand delegate moved: " I hat in future, when fhvt and seeond-ela-s band- meet together at the Niine content. that dill'erent mu-ic !.<• alloited to each ria.--. and tiiai clu>>e- In* - lionised." Carried unanimou-lv.

A delegate from JiippV Jiaud moved: I'hat lor all future content* tliree judge- be elected, ;U id tli;»t they be men with bra*> band experience." ' The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Th» chairman explained that ihe feeling ot the aliiiiated haiuN liad been tested, and a decided preference i'or one jud«'c had been evinced.

A (Ml';:.!!,' from til.' I.ytiollon Marin* UiHlll Hlo\t',| : ■■ |||,ii l( l!|'t]| I".Ill Il I'l 1111 In 't jIIu 1,.,,1,1 i„. 1,, I lII' jll.|;.e - . I, UN I*3 J illiiiniii,.,., |,, r ||„. I'--| -fl.-.iioii." "111.- ill-iti.iii The 1.1 lII'II,III M.ii'in,. |!,„|,| m.'Vf.l: -Tli.i! .-..i-li i-ujnjK't n.in.l *hoii!,| In' ! lii llu itli a (~|,v the trio-.. :i n,I -->l.l-. -u. il report t» lie il vail - alii.' nitliin a week."- lie-olveil Unit th,. "'.liter lie 11 l.'fi'e.l ! 0 !)„. executive, tli.it Imilv t.i If n ,|iai.i urgently eon--iilcr I lie mulier. The ( iiairmaii ;iNo iniileriook to Mil er\ icw the eililor "<' tin- " .YZ. UnnilMiiaiiuitli ;i view to J;. I tin;: rej.orl- ]>rinl,.J in tluit joiinial. 'Hi.' Auckliiii.l inoveil: •■Tlwt i" s "iin'.' tin' imi-ie -ii|i|ilieil for <|ii:irs"i"- - • !|l ' l lie ies| |iii w, llHlfllll ol 'oV.ll -I'll'l tioil '

M "' < liaii iiiiin i. eiiiiy refereim t-i the -prion- in.lUi.o.inon of lt,n.| ii'-i-ter Cii.-liioii. of i|„. Wi1n.j;,,,,,! i; ilv I hni u.'iillriii.in won 1.1 -non In. u,.| ii'Min.

T!i.' fii-limi.ti". r,iiirtto il.o < Ei.ii man t'-rmiiulc! tlie ino- tin-.