A PUKEKOHE BAND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 527, 30 April 1920, Page 2

A PUKEKOHE BAND.

A most glaring weakness at the welcome to the Prince of Wales at Pulj£kone on Tuesday was the absence of a brass band. Had iiis Highness honoured Waiuku by a stay il.e.a, however brief, that progressive township would not have failed in this respect, since tne place possesses a good band, whicli, by the way, rendered a good selection at the last Franklin A. and P. Show, it is rare that a place like Pukekc.he, situated on the Main Trunk liiic, possesses tiie degree of Ircn patriotism in evidence at self-centr. u places Into Waiuku, where *he peoples interest is not so readily uvavvn citywards. But, allowing foi this factor, tne re is such a mate iui difference in the population of the two places, in favour of Pukekohe, that this town ought easily to support a band. The instruments are, we understand, already here; and. so

are the instrumentalists. A leadoi is what is lacking most of all, though such an one could be founu it interested parties cared to look for him. 11' staited on right lines, vth a courteous but linn—especially firm—conductor, success should be certain. A fatal mistake is made Ly musical societies when they are not founded on business lines: the public must be made to pay for any entertainment pioviued in whol-j or in part by a band, and the funds should be in the hands of a busiflfcsi committee set up apart from the members of the band, and carefully administered so that the band's fm:uicial position will become and remain sound. Throughout the yea. there are scores of indoor and uutdooi functions that would be vastly improved by a brass band, which would give them just that verve and swing that is essential to joyousness and the real spirit ot entertainment. The long winter nights are now approaching, when there will be time lor practices, and we trust that interested parties will take this matter up and carry il to a successful issue, thereby securing the advantage of practice for themselves and conferring benefits oil the community at large.