MUSIC WITHOUT HARMONY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2917, 1 August 1925, Page 3

MUSIC WITHOUT HARMONY.

A RAGTIME MEETING OP BANDSMEN.

DISSATISFIED MEMBERS TO CONFER WITH REGISTRAR.

For the first, time the Press was admitted to a meeting of the Foxton Silver Band on Thursday night. The meeting was a “summons meeting” to deal with defaulting bandsmen, convened by the Chairman, allegedly acting under instructions from the Registrar. The meeting was run on strict mageristerial lines, delinquents being placed “on the mat” before the Chairman who, in all cases, after the hearing of evidence reserved his decision. Despite this attempt at dignified procedure the meeting proved far from orderly, the proceedings throughout being very stormy, and ending in a vote of no confidence in the Chair. Members then elected two delegates to wait on the Registrar with a view to clearing up the existing trouble and restoring lienee, love and harmony once more to the music sanctum of our local bandsmen.

Those present, were: Messrs. Aitohison, Holder, J. Ilofmann, A. Aitchison, V. Hofmann, J. Madden, J. Newth, D. Knewstub, B. Walls, R. Heath, D. Brooks, H. Osborne, Ebbett, W. Newth, B. Newth, B. Barnett, T. Betty, R. Rand and C. Rand.

In opening the meeting the chairman (Mr. J. Aitchison) stated that the reason for calling the meeting was to hear Bandsmen’s reasons for absenting themselves from practices.

AUTHORITY FOR MEETING WANTED.

Mr. Brooks: Will yon please read out the order convening this meeting?

The secretary (Air. J. Madden) then read Ilie following advertisement. which has appeared in three issues of the “Herald." “Acting under instructions from the Registrar, the Bandsmen are hereby summoned to appear before the Chairman of the above Society on Thursday, at. 7.30 p.m., to answer by what authority they have for absenting themselves from practices. The Chairman will tlhen hold a special General Meeting of bonafide members to deal with the absentees. (Signed) J. W. Madden, Secretary.”

Air. Brooks: Will you please read the instructions you received from the Registrar to convene this meeting?

The secretary said that the chairman had interviewed the Registrar on the matter. Mr Brooks: I want the written authority. The Chairman said that he had been advised personally by the Registrar to convene the meeting and the pmpose of the meeting was to hear bandsmen’s reasons for absenting themselves from practices. Nothing else. Air. Brooks then read the following letter he had received from the Registrar, dated the 28th July, 1925: “Re Foxton Silver Band: In reply to your letter of the 25th instant, I have to inform you that I have received no communication from, the Secretary of the above Band in connection with tha advertisement under the hand of the secretary. A few days ago the Chairman and Bandmaster interviewed me in connection, with the above band. No new rules have been submitted by the Band. for registration.” The reading of the above was a signal for an uproar on behalf of the bandsmen and it was only after repeated appeals for order by the Chairman that order was once again attained. AHSSING RULES. All-. Osborne said that the secretary had said that he forwarded the rules to the Registrar three weeks ago. It was a funny thin? that the Registrar had not received them. The secretary said that he had sent the rules, together with a letter, of which he had a copy, two months ago. Asked to produce the copy, he said he. had left it at home. He did not register the letter’. Mr. Brooks (to chairman) : 1 want to see your authority for calling this meeting. This was followed up by cries of “Out with the instructions.” “Your bluff’s called,” etc. Mr. Golder (Bandmaster) said that it was no bluff. He and the Chairman waited on the Registrar' and asked his support in calling this meeting. The Registrar had assured then that “not only he but the whole cofunlry was behind them.”

' Xlie Chairman: We.are not her# to argue the point. Voices: Too right we are.

Mr. Osborne. This advertisement contains a false statement then. The Registrar denies giving any instructions.

The Secretary: i didn’t receive any instructions from the Registrar.

The Chairman: I’m here to ask the question why: More uproar-, during which Mr. Colder asked Mr. Brooks if he sent a copy of the advertisement to the Registrar-. Mr. Brooks: I did.

Mr. Colder: i’ll write to him myself to-night and see if that is correct. The Chairman: Order 1 Order! We will now read Tipi ATTENDANCE ROLL.

Mr. Ebbett: Were these practices advertised? Look here, gentlemen, we have sat here till midnight on occasions amending the rules and are you now going to allow a few men to do as they like?

Pandemonium, during which the Chairman bad to severely reprimand Air. Golder. When silence once again reigned the Chairman commenced to read out the list of defaulters Air. C. Rand was the first called and the Chairman asked his reasons for being absent from practices. AD. Rand: Can you give me your reasons for being absent? The Chairman: T have been here. Air. Rand: You were never here before we amended the rules. Continuing, he said that, he had attended at all times except when he was working. He had become tired of attending and . finding no one present.

The Chairman: You had no intentions of coming since the night of June. 23rd.

Air. J t Newth, on being interrogated, stated that at the last meeting, held on June 23rd., he had asked the Bandmaster when the next practice would he held and was told that there would he no more “until! after all this is settled.”

This statement was strongly denied by the Bandmaster and the meeting turned to Bedlam once more.

The Chairman shouted above tbs din that what the Bandmaster had said was that musicians can’t go without practice. AD. Brooks: He told us to practice at. home. A QUESTION OF PRACTICE. Air. R. Rand, next “on the mat” stated that he was under the impression that practices had been postponed until the new rules were returned.

Air. J. Newth said that, lie had never missed one practice since he had joined up till after the 23rd June, when practices were cancelled

The meeting once again became unruly, and it was only after the Chairman had threatened to use force if order could not he obtained that the business was aide to he proceeded with.

Air. Walter Newth admitted lie had missed a. few practices. At the last meeting he had personally asked the Bandmaster when the next practice would he held and was told that there would be no more “until this was fixed up.” Air. B. Newth said that he was one of the best attending members of the. hand and took a keen interest in band matters. He had turned up to practice four or five nights running and found no one present. He had not attended after the last meeting as he understood practices were cancelled. AD. Barnett corroborated the statements of the previous speakers and said be remembered Mr. Golder making the statement. AD. Golder: Brooks said that.

Air. Osborne (to the Chairman) : Are these satisfactory answers? AD Brooks: No. lie’s going to sack the lot of us at the finish. AD. Brooks was then called on to answer why lie had absented himself from practices and asked for the dates on which he had been absent and a definite charge. The .Secretary: Since June 23rd. AD. Brooks said that he was the only Band member with a complete record for attendance at practices. He had not missed one up till the nigh), of the last meeting. Air. Heath said he was the second best at tender. DECISION RESERVED.

Air Osborne: Are these favourable answers Mr. Chairman? The Chairman: I reserve my decision.

AD - . Knewstub said he had at tended on praeLiee nights and found lie was on bis own. The Bandmaster on one occasion told him he did not want him as lie had pupils to teach but that be could play his parts over. That was on a baud practice night between 7 and 8 p.m. Messrs Betty, Walls and Ebbett were also questioned and answered on lines similar to the others. The Chairman: That’s tlie lot.

AD. Walls: What about you others?

The Chairman: AD’. Hofmann has not missed any practices since the last meeting. The practice to have been held last Thursday night was cancelled by order of the Registrar. There were nine practice nights between June 23rd and to date. AD. Newth asked

WHO CALLED THE ROLL? Tlie Chairman said be hud asked Alessrs. Brooks and Walls to call tlie roll on different occasions but they luxd refused to do so. Air. Newth: Practice nights should have been advertised.

The Chairman then proceeded to question the other members of the band on attendance.

A. Aitehison said he had missed four practices but that was only because he had had a lot of homework to do.

V. Hofmann offered a similar excuse for missing one night. Mr. J. Madden (three) was excused by consent of the meeting.

Mr D. W. Robertson (four) was absent.

This made the sum total with the exception of AH'. W. Golder (on leave). Mi-. Osborne said that the Chairman had said that they were trimming’their sails to catch the wind but he thought the register had been trimmed to catch something. Air. Golder: Be careful. Mr. Knew stub: Where are the past registers? The Chairman: I can only refer you to your past officers. There was further heated discussion, at this point the Chairman was heard to remark “This is SHEER IGNORANCE, the way you talk.” (Concluded on page d.)