BRUMMAGEN WELCOME TO CHAMPION BANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 2

BRUMMAGEN WELCOME TO CHAMPION BANDS.

Sir,—ln justice to'myself and my fel-luiv-bandsmeu, X herewith have a word to say 10 Mr. T. 11. Wilford's explanation to the "Post's" reporter to-day. Ha says that ray letter was obviously written under a complete misconception of the actual facts of the position. Allow me to inform Jlr. Wilford that such is not tho case, and if he thinks ho can bluff the majority of tho citizens of .Wellington ho cannot bluff me. . In the first place, 1 mr,, or was on the committee in the Garrison Band, and Mr. "VVilford will know that the business of tho band sliould go through tho committee. - The first I knew of this business' was in reading the'"Evening Post." I read that a "public reception" would be accorded ; tho bands, and further down that a charge of Is. would be made for some other;' object not. connected with , band matters. Now, if this is not a case of using tlio honour tho two bands have won after months of hard work into a moriey-inak-ing affair, I would liko to know what is. However, I will leave the publio of Wellington,, in fact, all New Zealand, to judge. In brief, it has belittled the meritorious win. Now Comes the trouble. Who granted tho use of. the public Town Hall of Wellington? Why, and \vhat was it granted free of charge for? I hopn Sir. Wilford won't persist in saying in honour of tho bands, when some other body is scooping the pool without any outlay. Some time back tho Garrison Band wished to devote the proceeds of a S'unday night's concert to the Children's Hospital Fund. Could they get tho hall for nothing for such charity? No! Eight puiueas in advance, please. I might rjiy that if the two bands had been asked to contribute to a monster demonstration to raise funds to send New Zealand /athletes to. England, they would h'ayo, said "Aye" to a man; but it ie the principle of the'thing that I object to—granting the. hall free, and trying to kuII tho publio that it is in honour,of t.lie bands, when, in reality; it is feathering forneone else's nest. If the bandsmen of this city put up with this treatment, instead of fostering the art of brass band music, it will kill it.-as any self-respecting player won't put up with it., especially as it. is almost without exception non-monetary. Trusting j'ou will insert the above in justice to myself and the public, whom I will leave to judge for themselves,—l dm, etc., ' . THOS. LA WHENCE. Late Wellington Garrison. '