WHO SHOULD SUPPORT OUR BAND?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2237, 14 November 1907, Page 2

WHO SHOULD SUPPORT OUR BAND?

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS

At the band smoke concert- last night there was an interesting discussion as to the finances and management of the hand. Air. Pickford said the band should certainly have moro public support. To ensure this support there should be a- citizens’ committee. He thought that without this the baud could hardly carry on operations. Air. Albrecht thought the volunteers might give more help than they had in the past. Captain Beere testified to the good woi'k done by the band for tho volnot hope to repay the band for its generosity. They had endeavored to help the band by getting it declared a battalion band, but that was impossible, and the present proposal to make it- a lmlf-battalion band was still being considered by the authorities. Somo help might be given by the corps allowing the band to use as a practice room the new drillshed when it was built. Air. AA r ebb said the creation of a citizens’ committee was really tho only way to get money. Ho would like to see tlie committee started that night, or some definite suggestion made for raising money.

Air. Darton said he would like to bo among tho first to form' the committee, but lie desired to make it clear that the committee wac not a “cadging” one—it was merely to put the responsibility for keeping the band going to tho right shoulders—those of tho general public. Air. Spurdlq said tho AVanganui band (the premier band in the Dominion) owed its groat- success to tlio interest taken in .it by tho general public, as tho result of there- being a citizens’ committee. It cost moro to run a band than tho public generally imagined. Air. Zachariali said that if the committee went about things in the right wav they would get support from all sides. Ho understood that the Cook County Curious Coons were willing to give a performance in conjunction with tho band for tlio benefit of the band’s funds.

Air. Laurenson, President of the Coons, took it upon himself to promise such support. Ho might go further, ho said, and definitely promise the band the net proceeds of the society’s second performance. (Applause.)

Air. F. Pet-tie said-that the band do-orved public support. It was .asked to plav for the benefit, -of all the town’s public institutions, but people forp-ot that, the band itself was a public institution,- AV.ith tlie experience gained, he ventured the opinion, the band would have a better chance at next, contest, banco there was no justification for a lessening of interest- in the movement.

Consideration - of' tlio suggestion mado was deferred.