BAND MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2191, 19 October 1920, Page 3

BAND MATTERS.

(To the Edilor.)

Sir.—-Councilor Hunt is Avrong in his statement io the Mayor. He distinctly called me a “lied Red-," and Unit I wa*> responsible for the whole trouble. Then* is not an atom of ini Hi in the effusion of “Com Com,” whom 1 have succeeded in bringing out for other requirements. He is chancing his aim, and Cm Council and Salvation Army might feel satisfied to grasp I lie frail twig for support. The two Salvaionists. who wailed upon yon have not done (he proper thing. ’Were they afraid to emisull me, as ■(hey consulted others/ 1 would not liiive calen I hem. A personal nterview would have hcljered their position, tor it is jtow .openly seen that the local Salvation Army lignres in the dispute in a uianner Avhich was nor hitherto'known. It is extraordinary that the two Salvationists confess they do not exactly know why they arc yet liny a municipal subsidy. Bill I know the facts from A to- Z. It is interesting to note also that they are up against municipal work. Do they, then, \ ask, feet just died in accepting a municipal allowance, while we have to go without, unless we fulfil some coitlraid to encourage a picture show, while they, take a municipal grant and arc privileged to discourage’ "pictures" —municipal or otherwise. Wo cannot gel .assistance on such rosy terms as they do. We are required to put in heavier practice work on much more difficult and varied class of music, at a higher price to secure, and receive from the Council a lot of hard agreement papers to wade through before we can got the smell ol assistance, and to do the work which they decline to do, and which compels us to throw in our bread and 'hutter jobs, on the shortest pos-.-Jhlc notice, io accomplish. This work always counts for nothing, except, of course, as Ihe Mayor pointed out to Councillor Rand, lhal it is our “public duty," Now then, •■Rom Rum," on this puinl meet me iy the open, and throw aside your thread-hare urns!.:. Learn Io blow a ‘•pom-pom" for the cause of the Mayor’s "pnhic duty" (without pay). ■ft would he discourteous oii me did I nol express deep regret if iiiy remark, ‘‘inferior hand” hurls you, hnl Captain Coffin enjoyed Iho pleasure of ('-ailing ns the “half-pie" Borough Band, and it hurt us. The farce of ihe thing is this; A municipality subsidised hand is exempt from municipal work, winch an un--aihsidised baud must necessarily do. Will “Pom Rom’’ eon Per with the wisdom of the Mayor on this point, for it was mi the easting vote d: the ’.Mayor char his .Municipal ( ?) Band was deprived of municipal as-

A-iance. Aml it was on ihe casfiisi vole oi.' the Mayor that municipal assistance was granted to n sectarian hand which declined municipal work. The ‘.l'own Clerk makes a slaolment to the 1 kind masi - that the Salvaton Army Band •veve subsidised to show (us) w 1 1 ar, the Conmdl could do. Thi- method might suit (be Salvatjon Army, but my Band would never accept m-,-Jslanee in this way. Mr Editor, tor your guidance, the position is properly tin-.: —Some lev,’ monlbs ago Ibe Council asked my Band for •j, resolution, and an honourable resolution was duly seal, and in my oflb-ial eapaeily as socrcdary 1 maintain ibal the Conneil are tinkering with Ibe question by furwardng mo a lot of bothering agreements cnhodying idle threats if the conditions therein are not eomplied with. One has reached me in the form of a resolution finished off with a renewed threat. I only ask that they keep to the resolution, as we are keeping to ours. Both resolutions have been published, though the Conncil’s resolution has not yet gone before Ihe Band for consideration. —1 am, ere., - A. SMITH,

Hon. Sec. Fox ion Brass Band. [THIS correspondence is now closed. —Ed. H.J