MUNICIPAL BAND?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 3

MUNICIPAL BAND?

WAIPUKURAU PROPOSAL l _____ (From Our Own Correspondent) WAIPUKURAU, This Day. Approval of 'a suggestion to make Waipukurau 's brass band a munieipal one was given by tho Waipukurau Borough Council last evening, when a deputation from the band made it plain that under its present constitution the organisation was not progressing as it should. A sub-committee of the council was appointed to draw up a new constitution, after conferring with the band. By this decision the Borough Council has paved the way towards presenting the Waipukurau community with a much-improved band, for it is antieipated by bandsinen that botter instruments and new uniforms might soon be made available. "After running the band for many years, we find that we are not doing very well," 1said the band's conductor, Mr E. Malkin. "We come now with the suggestion that the Borough Council should take over the band and make it a munieipal one." The organisation 's secretary, Mr E. R. Perkins, suggested that new rules might be drawn up for the control of the band. An important point was that, under munieipal control, the band would probably be able to import instruments free of duty. At the present time there were no instruments for learners and the ones now in use were not the best. The uniforms were about 13 years old. * "The bandsmen feel that they should have the moral support of the couneil beliind them," he added. "Encouragement means a big thing. It is not our iutention to throw the whole of the finaneial responsibility on to the council." He suggested that the band become a munieipal one and that rules be drawr. up and approved by the council. "We think that any property owned by the band should become vested in the borough," he concluded. The Mayor, Mr I. W. N. Mackie: I tliink the band would have more status if it were a munieipal one. Mr Malkin pointed out that the band hoped to compete in competitions, for which reason new uniforms were badly needed. If he council assumed the responsibility sought, it could perhaps vote an annual subsidy to enable it to carry on. "I can't see that we are going to lose anything by agreeing to the band becoming a munieipal one," said Mr Mackio, after the deputation had ietired. "I see no objection to their proposition. ' ' After approving of the suggestion, the council appointed the following sub-comfnittco to confcr with the band and draw up a new constitution: The Mayor, Crs. J. C. Windlc and H. A. Martin, and tho town clerk-engineer, Mr H. B. Smart.