BAND MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 959, 25 February 1911, Page 3

BAND MATTERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have just returned from my holidays, and the discord between the Borough Band and the School Committee was not nice to be welcomed with. Because I have not given a public denial to the attack against me, rumour has it that after all there must be some truth in the statement that “the bandmaster refused to allow his men to assist at the Fete because a school committeeman supposed I had a grievance against him.” This is entirely erroneous and unfair. That I entertain a grievance comes as a great surprise, and has got me puzzled. Indeed, my only regret is that the Council had not gone further into the matter as was proposed. I have repeatedly questioned the Committeeman who had made the unfair assertion, and he appeared confused, and was quite sure that I had no grievance against him, but strangely enough admitted of some uncalled-for grievance against me, and during a usual friendly conversation he begged me to take no notice of certain people who talk idly and are what he calls “two-faced,” stating he saw something of the affair in the paper, but did not bother his head much, as it was a lot of rubbish, and did not know what they were driving at. This grievance against me has since been proved to be queer jealousy. Mr Editor, I tried my level best to get a baud to assist at Jthe Fete, but the essential players were mill hands, and could not be present. The whole affair has caused players to resign, and though I have tried my best to regain a player whose place is hard to fill, I now feel so disheartened at finding my hard labour and interest in the band to be thus marred and shattered by prejudice and untruthfulness. I feel it so much that I, too, intend resigning as conductor and member of the Municipal Baud. lam led to believe the untruthful complaint is actuated by a jealous motive — purely musical long-standing against my position. Mr Editor, I would rather resign that position than have it cause anybody pain, but I trust my resignation will not cause displeasure, for I am truly sickened and disheartened. I may be asked to view the untruthful assertion as being a mere “ hasty remark,” which time and patience may quickly smother ; still it will not influence my decision till time has smothered some very cowardly prejudice and unchristian feeling this affair has quite providentially revealed. Thanking the Borough Council for their kindly letter bearing reference to the Band’s noted improvement under my baton, and thanking you for your gratuitous space,—l am, etc., John Goddek.