NORTH ISLAND BAND ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3096, 20 January 1909, Page 7

NORTH ISLAND BAND ASSOCIATION.

The following: letter has been received by the Masterton Band from the Secretary of the Wellington Garrison Band: — "lhe affairs of the North Island Brass Bands Association have, in our opinion, been so badly managed for some years past, that we consider, in the interests of affiliated Bands, that the true position should be known. In the first place numeroas amendments have been added to the rules since they were registered in 1903, but none of these have been registered. We may mention that Rules 52 and 53 have been left out. They provide fur "test" music for the solos, quartettes, etc., and the Association has to provide the music, and the Contest Committee to pay foxsame, also only one quartette party can compete out of each band, and only one soloist on each instrument excepting cornet and horn, and then only two may take part. Of course this has been ignored for years, but it is legal. Rule 65 has been added to, and Rules G3 to 75 have been added without being submitted for approval and registrr.ton. To come nearer home, at the ti'om bone trio contest in New Plymouth, Wanganui Garrison team won, with Auckland -* First Battalion second and Woolston third. An amendment was supposed to exist to the effect that "no solo, etc., could be played that had won at a previous contest." The Executive disqualified Wanganui, and the other two came up one. Then Wangmui took legal advice and 'demanded the medal?, and the Executive hid to give in, because of the secretary's bungle. As the First Battalion team refused to give up tbeir medals, the Association had to provide i ew onus for Wanganui, and, of course, we each have to pay for those. The ballot paper for the election of Judge at the Hastings Contest contained the name iff Mr Alfred Hill. After the papers had been sent to the Bands, Mi Hill took ill, and Mr Hoi ben communicated with Mrs Hill, asking whether Mr Hill was well enough to go to the poll, and she, thinking that the Contest was in a week or two, replied that he was not. Lieut. Herd and Mr Baker, two members of the Executive in Wellington, were not even approached by the secretary to ascertain Mr Hill's condition. However, that was only a lack of courtesy, but the secretary's action has been more serious than that. Messrs Findlay and Daiziell advise that the se:retary's action in instructing the Bands not to vote for a certain candidate is illegal, and the election cf Judge will, be void, especially ;:s the s-econd ballot is not in conformity with the rules. The position as to Hastings Contest is t i 9:- If A wins the Contest, B can make an app'kation and have the upset cn the grounds as described abuve, and, further, this Contest is to ber.n under a further amended Book of Rules dated 1908, j which provide for "B" Grade Contest, new marching rules, and numerous amendments, but not one are legal, and anyone winning a prize is liable to have it taktn from him by anyone who likes to take action. Seeing that the position with regard to the Hastings Contest is so unsatisfactory and cannot be run except in an illegal way, we suggest that the contest be postponed to such a date thit will permit of UjC election of judge, to be carried out in a legal and proper manner, and, further, that each Band write 10 the secretary uf the Association asking him to call a special meeting of the Association, as per Rule 39 (not Executive) to consider the allegations made herein, when we will send delegates to substantiate these statements, and give further evidence, if m.cassary. 1