SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Southland Times, Issue 18858, 25 June 1920, Page 2

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

To the Editor. Sir, —A letter appears in this morning’s Times on the above subject signed “Tweedledum.” It should have been “Tweedle Twaddle” as it contains nothing but a lot of silly sarcasm and misstatements that do not bear on the subject under argument. With your permission. Sir, I will endeavour to correct some of his twaddle so that your renders will not he misled. First he says: “The Council stipulates that these concerts shall not begin till S o’clock.” The Council stipulates nothing of the sort. These Sun day concerts have never been commenced before 8.15 even when the doors could be opened at 7.30. Your correspondent wishes the public to believe that the bands intend to commence their concerts earlier to run opposition to the churches. Nothing is further from the minds of the bandsmen who have assisted the churches by phiyirtg at many of their functions, but they (the bandsmen) are broadminded enough to know that there are thousands of people in Invercargill who are not churchgoers, but who like to hear a litdc music even if it is on a Sunday. Your correspondent says: “If the Council allowed a charge to be made it wouldn't matter so much about a stampede.” This wouldn’t alter the position one iota, as people going early would still lie kept waiting ou( in the coid. In reference to what the Scotch people have done for Southland, I don’t think we need to be reminded of it, any more than we may be reminded of what the English and Irish have done, and don’t forget Mr “Tweedledum” that the colonials have also done something for the advancement of Southland. ‘ln regard to his inference “that music loving Ger--- and countries that are music loving” were responsible for the world’s late catastrophe, I am bold enough to assert that if the part of Germany was as: music loving as the other part, there would have been no war. As to his assertion that Sunday evening concerts were stopped in Dunedin by the churches, allow me to inform him that I attended a band concert in Dunedin on March 7tb and I don’t suppose any alteration has taken place since then. If there had I think we bandsmen would have heard of it. In conclu-ion. I would like to state for the benefit of “Tweedle Twaddle” that there are a great number of good churchgoers in our local bands, that we have no quarrel with (he churches, nor with the English, Scotch or Irish citizens, but arc out to do our very best for the town in every way ,and all we expect in return is fair play and a little encouragement from those who are in a position to give it. 1 am sure if we pc' it Invercargill will have no reason to he ashamed of its bands. 1 hanking vou for space.- I am, etc,, “DISGUSTED BANDSMAN.” June 24.