MUNICIPAL BAND

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 171, 12 March 1932, Page 6

MUNICIPAL BAND

COUNCIL'S DEFENCE REPLY TO CRITICISM OF RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION. DETAILS OF COST. The Rotorua Ratepayers' Association last evening communicated with the Borough Council asking the council to review car;fully the cost of the niunicipal band, as it was generaily considered that no adequate return was obtained for the considerable outlay in conneetion therewith. The A.3sociation suggesttd that the meagre attendance at the band concerts amply testified that they were not sufficiently appreciated to warrant the cost. The council decided to reply, affirming its opinion that the band was a very necessary facility in the tov/n, and giving complete figures of the cost of the band. The op'nion was expressed that these costs were very reasonable. •

Gr. W. Galbraith said that there was a rumour going round the town regarding the cost of the sheet music supplied to the band. He thought tae council might be given some information on the point. The Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson) said he could not give the exact amount at present, but it was very small. However, the total amount on the estimates to cover the cost of the band was £149 6s lld. This covered the cost of music, the bonus to bandsmen, the cost of spare stands, etc., but was exclusive of the bandmaster's salary, which amounted to £260 per annum. Cr. Albert Smith said he thought that the two sets of figures should be given as one total. 'It was all included in the cost of the band. Cr. N. M. Keans: It costs us about £400 a year. "Very Satisfactory." The Town Clerk stated that the amount spent on music during the year was £7 18s 9d. "That is very satisfactory," co:.i mented Cr. Galbraith. The Mayor said that the only rcrson why the cost of music was so low was that the bandmast: r wrote nearly all of the scores .h'mself- ir his spare time. This resulted in ? saving to the council which wocld balance the difference in the salary of a full time and a part time c^nductor. The Mayor then suggested that ihe .. Ratepayers' Association be written t.c setting out the true facts of the ca~e The Associat'on's letter conveyed s ; totally erroneous impression that the band was costing an exorbitnni amount, and it should be corrected, Nothing to Conceal. Cr. Smith said that if any figu 3? were given, he thought the amounf of the conductor's salary should he • included. There was nothing to conceal and the eonductor earmd his salary. Cr. G. Urquhart sa'd that he did

not see that the council was c'alled upon to give any figures at all and another councillor pointed out that the Association could easily obtain the information it desired from the council offices. Cr. 0. H. Coleman said he thought that the council shoul,d publicly affirm its op'nion that the cost of the band was a very necessary item in a town like Rotorua. In this town, above all others, a band was very necessary. The band supplied a long-felt want and many visitors appreciated it. Well Worth While. Other councillors supported the opinion that the expenditure on the band was well worth while. "There has been a good deal oi criticism regarding the bandmastei' and some people have said that he should be found another job. In my opinion he is one of the hardest workcd men in the town," said Cr. Co:e-' man. Between December 1 and Marib 8, a period of 14 weeks, the bandmaster had attended 22 band rehearsrls and 27 other band performances. In addition, the bandmasher had held two rehearsals a week of the bo ys' band, and had talcen 19 boys for private lessons. He attended the bandroom every night but Sunday, a id also attended the High School twice a week to train the school bugle band. In addit'on to this work. the bar.dmaster had reconditioned a set of old instruments which he now valu id at £100, and spent a lot of time in writing music scores and repairi.ig instruments. It was decided to reply to the As' -ociat'on affirming the council's c ,iuion that the band fulfilled a very necessary purpose. The clerk was a'so instructed to give the Association the complete figures of the cost of the band as follows: — Bandmaster's salary, £230 per annum, other costs £147 6s lld; total, £407 6s lld.