BAND CONTEST ECHO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 256, 27 March 1914, Page 5

BAND CONTEST ECHO.

THE AUCKLAND INCIDENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. T , v Palmerston N, Last Night. Th# North Island Brass Bands' Association executive met this evening, when several letters were read in regard to the recent irregularities at tho Auckland contest. Mr Cohen contended that the more dignified way would have been for the judge not to have ignored the Association, and first gone to the Press ana circulated statements which would bo hard to repudiate, seeing they had been so widely circulated both in Australia and New Zealand. Thftv had a great difficulty to face in dealing with this question, especially as the executive were distributed all over the Island, and also on account of the difficulty of getting the offending bandsmen together. If they decided to hold an inquiry the .gien charged should be in a position to hear the charges, from the lips of those who had made them. Two bands were singled out, while others were implicated.

Lieut. Herd (Wellington) and Mr T. Russell (Wanganui) denied that their bands were the offenders.

The chairman was inclined to take the playinj before the massed bands more as a joke and in the nature of a "cappin« ceremony" by students. The counting-out was an act of vulgarity, whish should be taken strons exception to. Lengthy discussion ensued as to the course of proccedure, and it was eventually decided to take the evidence of the members of the executive who were present when the irregularities took place. Finally, it was proposed by Mr Williamson (Auckland representative). seconded by Bcrgt.-Jla.jor Anderson, "That til's executive, bavin" dealt witli the letter from the Auckland Band Contest Committee, anr' having heard the evidence of member? of the executive who present at the contest, take no further action, ■ winar to the difficulty in deciding which bandsmen were culpable. At the same time the executive regrets that any particular bands should have been si'ieled out blame."