THE BOROUGH BAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2088, 10 February 1920, Page 3

THE BOROUGH BAND.

The following letter was road from the secretary of the .1' ox ton Borough Band at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council: “I am instructed to reply to the resolution to my Band for their acceptance. The Band lias not had the required notice that would render the former agreement as cancelled, and so, believing the Council’s new agreement out of order, I regret I am unable to go into the matter, and so have had to leave yoijjT letter Tabled.’ 1 would refer your Council to our former agreement dated 29th day of June, 1914, in which three months’ notice is required to rescind the old resolution. This the Council has not done. The Band, however, are desirous that this former agreement he cancelled, and in accordance with the clause embodied therein I beg to submit the quarterly notice to be given, and to take -effect from the date of this letter. Until this former resolution is rescinded I am unable to satisfactorily consider the terms, of the new agreement, and even then I would guarantee a satislactor', acceptance.” The Town Clerk said that it looked as if the last sentence should road: “Even then 1 would not guarantee a. satisfactory acceptance.” He asked Cr. hand if he could enlighten the Council on this point. Cr. hand said he did not know anything about it. ♦ The Mayor said the agreement, referred to contained a clause to the effect that it should remain in force from quarter to quarter. The Band, however, had not carried out the conditions re playing ' n Gout, of the Town Hall. Cv. hand: Why didn't you point out that we were not doing: our work'? The Band had really done more than they were called inon to do under the agreement. * Cr. Bryant; Never on your life! Cr. Rand contended three months notice of cancellation was necessary. If a- man was employed it was necessary to give him a week’s notice.

Cr. Bryan I ; Xot if- he'didn 1 turn up and do Ids work. Cr. Hand said Unit Band numbers had lost pay in. order to oblige I he Council and public. Whenever any function was on and the Band were asked to turn out they always did so. Individual members of the Baud got nothing out of it. The Mayor said that when any one took on a publie duty they did not expect to get anything out of it. Councillors did not get anything' for looking after tile interests of the borough. Cr. Rand: The Band is not a public duty. The Mayor said the matter could not be further dismissed that night, as there was no pqotion before the Council. -The Council had treated the Band most generously, and no private employer would si aml lor ten minutes the treatment meted out hy the Band to the Council during the last year. If any Councillor desired this matter to he further considered he could give notice to lescind the resolution passed at last meeting.

■ Cr. Rand said that since the agreement was entered into a deputation Availed on the Council, and it avus verbally agreed that the stipulation as to playing in front of the Toavu Hall should be deleted, and the Band be alloAved to play at tunes and places suitable to the Band. He pointed out that during the last tAvelve months the Band had been Avithout a leader, inving to the illness of the Bandmaster. Cr. Hunt gave notice to move af next Council meeting to rescind the motion .passed in January.