CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2916, 30 July 1925, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

(To The Editor)

Sir, —Once again I ask the liberty of your columns, prompted this time bv an advertisement in your paper calling upon bandsmen to appear before the chairman to explain why they have absented themselves from practice. Now Sir, I must take the public hack to the time of the late Mr Massey’s funeral, immediately following on that day it was decided by the Band that no more practices be held until the registration of new rules (the previous rulbeing rescinded do not now operate). Since that time, until just lately a certain few have met in she hand-room behind locked doors and barracaded windows, to discuss certnin things, under the guise of hand practice. Such practice, no doubt, accounts for the published notice. Now here T say the tactics adopted by what I shall call a clique, are peculiar, because up to the lime the Band decided to hold no more practices, the Chairman himself was a had offender as regards practice attending. As for calling the meeting at the behest of the Registrar seems to me an unadulterated bluff, as 1 happen to lie in correspondence, with the Registrar re the band. Further, to show how things are done, I vein cm her the Chairman stating in public that I lie Band had permission to forgo the annnal meeting, and the very next day a letter was received by the secretary from the Registrar, wanting to know why an annual meeting was not held, and bringing to tin 1 notice of the Band that they were liable to a line each day for two years and six months, during which no meeting, as required by the Act, had been held. Mark me here, it was stated the Registrar had given permission to forgo that meeting. I say here the Registrar himself had nothing to do with it, but 1 happen to lino# how it was worked and the correspondence is being forwarded to the Registrar. To that section of the Band who are making an honest endeavour to do the right tiling by the public, I say call a public meeting of the Band, and at the meeting to-night demand all correspondence to be laid on the table and see by whose and what authority the notice was published and the office of Registrar used therein. It could only be done by a full meeting of the Band, and the same has not been legally called and held. The Registrar himself does not interfere with attendance at practice. He only attends to the annual returns and firtancial acnirs of the band. Should the Chairman refuse any motion of the Band, then copy, a meeting held in Wellington recently, attended by fifty lawyers, and elect a fresh Chairman for the meeting. Your rules being rescinded, do not operate. Your new rules are not registered yet, therefore you are free to run I lie moot ing as you think best, and the sooner the Band is reorganised and placed on ft proper footing the better. Should the Press he excluded from the meeting, which cannot verv well be done, as the Band is noi registered under the Act that aliens certain societies to keep their affairs secret, the public will read it just the same per vours truly PICCOLO.

(To the Editor.) Sir —That your correspondent “Piccolo” is in much with the inner workings of the local band, only goes to show the fool headedness and lack of self-control of some of its members in divulging the business of a Registered Society. But now that the curtains are drawn I suppose we are priviliged to enjoy a little animated discussion on “Band matters.” In the first place, the Bandmaster has not had a square deal. He is a very poorly paid official in return for the amount of skilled work, free teaching and self sacrifice displayed—too well established to need further comment. The band has always put up capital performances at public functions free of charge, proving itself, too, a grand and enjoyable asset. But it is to be regretted indeed, that an unfortunate “strike” has now been perpertrated. In consequence of this, we read of severe reprimand notice from the Registrar. I trust that the grizziite

element —so obnoxious to progress —will lie instantly removed, and a notice inserted in the Press advertising for budding young bandsmen. Now. I care not a “tinker’s jot” about the permanency of its officials. Perhaps such an officialdom is deserved. Perhaps not. But this fact, is well known, that the chairman and the bandmaster jointly founded a Silver Band for Foxton, naturally entitling them to consideration. These men planked down the cash deposit, and shouldered liabilities, and responsibilities, which “Piccolo” would not care to shoulder unless similarly protected. As band organisers ihey knew their business, effecting a saving of nearly £IOO to their society, through knowing him to purchase free of duty. They in a measure are deserving of the protection for such splendid enterprise and risk. Now, “Piccolo” —who is in the running—asserts that the Band’s rules contain a “rescinding” clause. It this is so, then “how in [he Dickens” can he toll us that the officials are immortally permanent? There must ho something deeper at the hack of it, not known outside of the society. But sir, this apparent drastic clause about winding up the hand

gels me thinking. “Piccolo” in authority, quotes us the bands rule 21, as follows: —Five-sixths of the musicians of the Band, at a meeting convened for that purpose, may resolve that the Society be wound up, and shall appoint three musicians of the Band to act as liquidators and discharge all liabilities, and to hold all remaining property in trust for sonic other body having objects similar to this society j oi, lo divide the proceeds ol the sale of such property among the financial members of the society at the date of liquidation.” Will “Piccolo swear that the rule reads as quoted by hint? Or can the hand officials deny it? lam etc., OBSERVER.