ANCIENT BAND INSTUMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2535, 27 January 1923, Page 2

ANCIENT BAND INSTUMENTS.

COUNCIL TRANSFERS TO SILVER BAND.

The room that does duty as a temporary meeting place for the “city fathers” presents the appearance of a second-lhand dealers musical dump. Discoloured brass instruments, music stands and other band paraphernalia take up a good deal of Space in the limited area. The exhibit represents the assets of the now defunct borough hand, which assets, by the way, are the remnants of the instruments obtained from funds publicly subscribed many years ago. Upon the old band winding up, the Council was made trustee of the assets until such time as a new band was formed and registered to whom the “goods and chatties” would he transferred. An attempt jyas made to reform a Citizens’ Band by a few enthnsiats and simultaneously others formed and registered a “Silver Band” and forthwith obtained at considerable expense, new and up-to-date instruments. The former party did not succeed in forming up but objected to the Council handing over the old instruments to the registered society which were required to supplement the new instruments and to bo merged as added security to the new instruments until the debt on same is liquidated. At Thursday night’s Council meeting a letter was read from Mr M. E. Perreau, enclosing the following motion passed at a meeting of the Citizens Band: —“That the Council be recommended to loan the property and instruments now held in trust by them (the Council) to the Silver Band for a period of three months, but not including the cash.” The Mayor said lie was present at the meeting which expressed its consent to the Council. loaning the instruments to the Silver Band bill that the Council should retain some hold over them. The meeting was in full sympathy of unity between the contending parties. There was an attendance of ten at the meeting. Cr. Bryant: 'There were only two players present. Cr. Rand said lie couldn’t understand the action of the Council in the matter as the Council had passed a resolution that the instruments were to be handed over when a registered band came into existence. Tt appeared to him that an attempt was being made to ignore tins resolution. Tn bis opinion the only opposition was between the two would-be conductors. The Town Clerk then read lhe following resolution passed by the Council: —- ‘•That the Council resign the trusteeship of the band instrumcnis and that the instruments be handed over to the Band provided the Band becomes a properly registered body.” The Town Clerk said this was addressed to the old band. Cr. Smith moved and Cr. Thompson seconded: “That all band instruments at present held by the Council be passed over to the Foxton Silver Band but before doing so the Council requires an undertaking from the committee of the Silver Band to the effect that the instruments will not be pledged in any way whatsoever.” ( In speaking to the motion Cr. Smith said lie' had been informed that, the brass instruments were to be pledged as security in settlement of the new instruments and he was opposed to that transaction. It meant if default were made in payment of the new instruments the old instruments would go too and foxton would lose the lot. He hoped public interest would assist in putting the new band on a sound footing and he was willing to assist in any way possible towards this. Cr. Rand asked whether any better suggestion could be made to secure a better basis than what had been done —the band was now a properly registered body. He did not consider it a fair thing that the opponents of the registered band should dictate as to what, the Council should do with the instruments held in trust. Cr. Thompson endorsed Cr. Smith’s remarks. The motion provided a way to settle (he trouble and he, personally bad had enough of if. Cr. Coley agreed with the motion particularly in regard to pledging the old instruments, which the Council could not allow. The Mayor moved an amendment, seconded by Cr. Bryant, that the request set out in the letter he acceded to. The motion was carried. For: Crs. Smith, Thompson, Rand, Coley, Walker; against: the Mayor, Crs. Bryant and Rand.