STREET CONCERT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 84, 25 June 1943, Page 5

STREET CONCERT

BOND WAGGON ARRIVES

WEDNESDAY

MORNINGS

diversion

The drab routine of business was brightened last Wednesday morning by the brief but highly appreciated street concert staged by the personnel of the 'Bond Waggon' now engaged in a tour of the North Island country centres in the interests of the campaign for the Third Liberty Loan. I lie proceedings Avhieh Ave re unfortunately a day behind schedule owing to a series of mishaps on the Ava3 r J rom Opotiki Ave re- enjoyed by only a limited crowd AA-hich Avas nevertheless a highly appreciative one. The breezy personality of Mr Dudley Wrathall (of radio fame) was undoubtedly the highlight of the programme and few Avill forget the priceless extracts, from his fan mail AA'hich he read OA r er the 'mike-' Since leaving Wellington ten days ago the party lias been followed by extremely A\et Aveather and in practically every town use lias had to be made of halls or theatres. The idea of the "Bond Waggon" is not to directly sell bon-cl# but to arouse ; enthusiasm in the campa-ign'lto raise the Liberty War Loan oX 05,000,001). i he; artists Avere undoubtedly of a higjtv order and the burst- of applause which greeted - Sgt. StcAvart Harvey's-, spirited, rendition of "The Sergeant Major on Parade" sung in a splendid baritone, Avas an introduction to the line, standard which Avas maintained for a good half an hour. Leading Aircraftsman Ilay Treyvan sang "Because" and Mr Reg Morgan "When the lights go on all over ' the Avorld."

Mr K. G. Brown, an Australian businessman wlio is co-bperating in tlic progress of the loan -campaign gave a briel address, assuring his hearers that the the: only one to be made during the present year, and that the Government had also promised not to increase taxation. Arranged in front of the stage were a number of small. 20-pound, bombs. In addition to these a 500-11) aerial bomb was carried in the truck complete with explosive. Residents were able to place Avar savings stamps on this bomb which they were assured would be dropped, over a Japanese objective .as a 'present to Tojo.' The party concluded their programme amidst a further round of applause, after Avliich the G ton army truck which they are using, folding stage moved off to Rotd\*ua where it gave a similar programme in the afternoon. THE REASON WHY ! BOND WAGGON'S .MISHAP The reason -why the Bond Waggon which 'w;ts due to appear in Whakatane on Tuesday afternoon, an event which had drawn many people vinto town lor the purpose to hear' the artists, arrived inauspiciausly about. .">.;io p.m., was explained by Mr Dudley Wrathall the manager. Crossing the Waiotahi bridge the truck crashcd through a fence on the northern-side of the roadway and came to rest in a Avaterloggejl paddock. Several hours work < wbrci' I required to bring the heaVV■''vehicle liuck on to the road.

Later wlieii -'approaching Whaka-tane,-a long ' .stretch of the Taneatua road was also under water and this had also to be most carefully negotiated.,. However, all's well that ends' well.