THAT DISBANDED BAND. A Discordant Note.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 168, 19 September 1903, Page 8

THAT DISBANDED BAND. A Discordant Note.

BIRDS in their little netts agree and 'tis a painful sight to see bandsmen of one country fall out and chide and fight. So might the illustrious versifier have written his little lay had he been a New Zealander with an abiding faith in the ability of his countrymen to "knock spots off creation." The financial failure of the New Zealand representative musicians, and the bickerings which evidently caused the band to disband abroad, is useful, in that it shows that New Zealand cts journeying afield cannot expect to financially thrive merely on a, reputation alleged to have been made by the colony. * * * It is bitter to have to acknowledge that any combination of New Zealanders must advertise and boom themselves extensively if they want the public to assess them at their assumed value. It is hard for them, perhaps, to climb down, and sorrowfully admit that, after all, they oan/iot exactly give Sousa a lead, and win ma canter, or to imagine that a combination of players who have had but a limited experience together can hope to succeed merely by the accident of having been reared in New Zealand. * * * The vivid tales that have always been told about stupid Britishers wondering to find New Zealand bandsmen white, coupled with the fact that the tour financially was a poor one, don't agree. The alleged chawbacons of the Old Country would probably roll up in larger numbers to see the savage tattooed, band of their imagination, than the smart and prepossessing gentlemen with the staff caps and a silver fern. The bandsmen have felt hurt that the chawbacons knew nothing of our soldiering capabilities. No one could possibly know as much about that as ourselves, and a few thousand men among 300,000 is not a large proportion. » • # The New Zealander is naturally disappointed, now that the British crowd is sane and serious after its mafficking, that the whole world is not rushing to clasp him by the hand, and burning with a request to hear him blow the wild bassoon. There is such a heap of brass-instrument blowing at Home that a few more blowers of any nationality do not really matter to the British people. While the courage displayed by the New Zealand bandsmen in facing the difficulties that everyone foresaw , is commendable, it is unfair for any New Zealander to blame any particular persons who were with the combination. ♦ *■ * The best manager in the world cannot lassoo an audience and drag their money from their pockets. England is having a rest. It is not hankering after excitement. Its theatres are not well patronised. Its own bands cannot get a financial hearing. It is retrenching after the unexampled squandering of joy money. The failure of the New Zealand Band should not be a deterrent to other brave souls who want to set the Thames on fire.

It will be remembered that Mr. Seddou said, after the departure of the Bisley -team which Colonel SommerviHe took home " I am determined that New Zealand shall be leiJreseaited afc Bisley every year." Even his determination, as has been seen, w as insufficient to send a team Home to get the Kolapore Cup, which the Australians now hold. Is it that some New Zealanders are beginning to find out that they are not "the only pebbles on the beach" ? It is to be hoped so. It is to be hoped, too, that the people of this country will, in time place a more moderate estimate on their capabilities, and, when they journey forth, do so without expecting to be adored.