THE BAND AND THE COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2189, 14 October 1920, Page 3

THE BAND AND THE COUNCIL.

The dispute bet ween the Borough Council and the Brass Band still continues, and at each meeting of the Council a certain amount of time is taken up with tin* consideration of letter." from the secretary of the Band. At the September meeting it was decided l" invito the bandmaster and the chairman of the Band Committee to attend the next meeting of the Council and discuss the whole question, the hope being expressed that a settlement satisfactory lo both parties would rhim lie arrived at. However, the Band officials referred to did not attend Monday night's Council meeting', hut instead the following letters, one from the Band secret ary and the other from the Bandmaster and Chairman, were received. The secretary (.Mr A. Smith) wrote as under:—

“In forwarding to your Council fh<‘ enclosed letter from the Chairman and Bandmaster, the result ■•of a special hand meeting, convened to consider the proposals of the deputation asked for, I wish to inform tlie Council that a few days ago T was accosted by a Councillor who impressed upon me that he was the mover of the invitation which offered me the “slight” which 1 have fittingly resented Ho asked for my official opinion, concerning a document signed hy the bandmaster, and held hy your Council, supposing by it-to prove* (hat the band possess no claim to their own instruments which they had purchased. The validity of such proof 1 refuted, which led to the Councillor losing his head by cailing me a “Red Bed, and dial 1 was responsible for fhe existing trouble. This is not true, and tho uncalled for remark is no argument. 1 have previously looked on Ibis Councillor with deep respect and as a supporter on the baud side. 1 contend if my opinions are so desired and sought for in this way. and hy the mover 100, then I am. as Secretary, justly entitled lo discuss die question with the Council along with my other ollieials. However, von will note hy the enclosure they will nut he there. By the press report before me ot. the ( onneil s special meeting, 1 was surprised to see that Cr Hunt suggested removing die handroom from its present site to use as a temporary .Municipal Chambers. Now, if Cr Bryant s motion to lease the hand room for joinery classes has fallen through, (hen the Council should at once return lo me the keys ot the building, which was, built specially for the band and which the Council had no right to otter for lease, or any oilier use without the proper sanction of the hand. My hand are helping at the forthcoming fancy dres i football match to assist (lie Beautifying 1 Society’s hinds, an assistance which should have been the “public duty” work of the Salvation Arinv, die inferior hand subsidised. Will Councillors Hunt and Bryan« see to this."

The Bandmaster (Mi 1 J. Colder) mid Chairman’s (Mr -I. Newlh) letter was as follows : “We have to acknowledge your favour to meet the. (ouneil in neetion with the vexing dispute with the Baud, though we cannot see that iiuv good’van he done by our nl--1 ending. We respect fully ask that the Council may realise that whatever claim they may maintain only applies to trusteeship, that is to > ay; — Custodians of the instruments on behalf of the bandsmen, and vested in them by the band for protection, should the band, at any lime dissolve, or become moribund. When the Council can see clearly with the band upon this, probably (hen some belter understanding could be arrived at. It is very regrettable that when offering amicability toward the band, the Council could not see til to extend the samo courtesv to the band secretary as accorded to us, the chairman and bandmaster, for the omission hits marred the goodness of its purpose. Our secretary must not be ignored, whatever the eon tent ion may be between the Town Clerk and him, \ou will readily agree, gentlemen, that I he secretary has done the honourable tiling in o|ienly acknowledging his error to you, a virtue desired by all men, though little found in affairs at dispute, that unhappily exist in the make-up of mankind. Bo far as we, the ehairman and bandmaster, are eoneerned the unfortunate trouble has that lendeney to lessen onr ardour for brass band work, whereas, I the bandmaster, realse that had 1 put ns much energy into my business as I have into tlie band. I would have been eonsiderably better off to-day, and so I think it best, gentlemen, that I should forego the task of these duties soon after the dispute is satistaelorily settled. Cr Hunt’said time he was the councillor referred to in the secretary’s letter. He met the secret ary in the street, both being on bicycles, and in answer to a (juery from the secretary as to why he was not invited to attend the Council meeting along will) the other officials, Cr Hunt said he replied that the secretary should blame him (Cr Hunt) as he had moved the motion to invite the bandmaster and chairman. The question of the agreement signed by the band to deliver up the instruments when called upon to do so was brought up and the secretary said it “was not worth tin* paper it was written on.” Cr Hunt said to this he replied "Oh that's a Ked. Fed. yarn,” and that’s all that passed between them. The Mayor said that Hr Newth had told him he didn’t think any good purpose could be served by Pim and the bandmaster attending the Council meeting. Cr McHurray asked what the

position really was. Did the in* slruments belong to the Council, or to the Band, or who/ The Mayor staid that an agreement had been signed by the Band officials to deliver up (he insirnmenls to the Council when called upon, and it was nut likely this would he done if the instrnmonls were the. property of the Band. (T Bryant thought the only tiling to do was to compel the Band to deliver up the inslrmnenfs. The matter could not be allowed to, drag on indefinitely. After some further discussion it was decided on tho motion of Cvs AleAlurray and Coley that the Band he written to regretting tho attitude they have taken up, which appears as if the hand considers the Council is in opposition to the welfare of. (ho. Band, whereas the opposite is lluj ease, and if was with the idea of pulling nmlters on a satisfactory basis dial delegates were asked to meet the Conned. The Council now asks the Band to send delegates, not omitting the honorary secretary, to the next monthly meeting of the Council, failing which immediate steps be taken to obtain the Band instruments'.