BRASS BANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1922, Page 5

BRASS BANDS.

NEW PLYMOUTH CONTEST. NEXT YEAR’S FIXTURE PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS. A public meeting held at New Plymouth last night discussed the North Island Brass Bands’ contest, which Is to be held here next year. There was an attendance of over thirty. A number of committees were elected and the meeting fix*ed the tentative date for the contest as the week commencing on February 12 next. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), who presided, was pleased to see such a good number present to start the ball rolling, notwithstanding that there were a good many engagements that night. He recalled the fact that on the invitation of the citizens of New Plymouth, who had provided a guarantee of £l6OO, the North Island Brass Bands’ Association had decided that the Dominion contest for brass bands, A and B grades, be held in New Plymouth some time next year. Unfortunately at the outset there was a little difficulty, as the South Island Bands’ Association, which was a. separate body, was also conducting a contest next year, and had practically fixed it for February, which was regarded as the usual month for the North Island fixture. Having regard to the fact that the contest would be held in the open air, he thought it was advisable to hold the event at New Plymouth in February (notwithstanding the South Island contest), as that was the month of warm nightstand settled weather. When the committee was elected he thought every effort should be made through tlie association to have the date of the southern contest altered. The Mayor then invited the meeting to appoint a committee. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were elected: Patron, the Mayor; president, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.; vice-presidents, Archdeacon Evans, Messrs. H. Brookman. and E. J. Sole; general committee, Colonel Cox, Lieutenant Andrew, V.C., Messrs. P. E. Stainton, F. Newell, P. J. H. White, C. C. Ward, G. H. Saunders, R. L. Cooper, L. Little, F. Coleman, H. Collier, F. C. Ferry, W. C. Weston, H. R. Cattley, J. McLeod, C. E. Sadler, A. Hooker, A. L. Humphries, E. Jackson, J. C. Morey. H. Abbott, C. Carter, F. J. Hill, C. E. Bellringer, T. H. Bates, O. Cook, C. Downes, C. Bond, R. Day, E. L. Humphries, F. Hooker. G. E. Roper, R. Kibby, R. A. Large, C. Fairbrother, F. S. Johns, I). A. Nolan, L. B. Webster, A. R. Standish, R. George, H. B. Gray, W. J. Penn, R. O. Ellis, A. Veale.

Mr. Cattley, representing the North Island Association, said the first thing to be done would be to arrange a programme for the approval of the association. and after that arrangements would have to be made for the supply of the music. It would be also necessary to elect a secretary. He remarked that at the meeting of the association in Wellington recently, at which twen-ty-two bands were represented, including South Island men, all were unanimous that the contest should be held in New Plymouth next year, the proposal being endorsed by delegates as far away as Invercargill. He understood from a representative of the South Island Association who was in New Plymouth recently that endeavors are being made to have the date of that body’s contest altered.

A suggestion was made by Mr. G. H. Saunders that the committee might consider arranging a carnival fortnight by fixing the band contest to be held after the races, and the show might be held immediately after the contest week. The Mayor said the question of fixing a date was all-important, having in mind the difficulties in regard to accommodation when it was considered that they hoped to have thousands of visitors to the town. COMMITTEES SET UPAt a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Brookman was elected chairman and Mr. E. L. Humphries was appointed secretary. The position of treasurer was delegated to Mr. H. R. Cattley. Committees were elected as follows: Programme: Messrs. F. Newell, R. L. Cooper, J. McLeod, W. C. Weston, G. Saunders, E. Sole, and H. R. Cattley; chairman, Mr. Sole. Accommodation: Messrs. R. Day, E. Carter, G. E. Roper, R. A. Large, E. Jackson, F. J. Hill, C. Fairbrother, F. S. Johns; chairman, Mr. Hill. Grounds: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer, A. ‘L. Humphries, J. McLeod, C. Sadler, L. Little, C. Downes, L. A. Nolan, L. B. Webster; chairman, Mr. Humphries. Advertising: Messrs. G. Saunders, H. Collier, P. White, F. Newell, A. Hooker; chairman, Mr. Saunders. Entertainment: Messrs. J. Morey, J. Abbott, A. R. Standish. R. H. George, C. Sadler, C. Bond, H. B. Gray, E. Jackson, L. Cook, E. Carter, R. O. Ellis, F. J. Hill, and the Ven Archdeacon Evans (chairman). Finance: Archdeacon Evans, Messrs. F. J. Hill, C. E. Bellringer, H. R. Cattley, J. C. Morey, R. H. George, and the chairmen of the various committees. Mr. Brookman was elected chairman of this committee. It was decided tha* if possible the contest be held on the week commencing February 12, 1923. The chairmen of the respective committees were appointed conveners in each case.

The finance and programme committees met later. The former dealt with formal matters in connection with administration. After discussion the programme committee adopted the Wellington schedule with the addition of a class for hymn test selection, for which £35 was allotted, bringing the total prize money to £OB5.