THE GARRISON BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 152, 6 October 1910, Page 4

THE GARRISON BAND.

Judging by what passed at the meeting convened by the Mayor on Tuesday evening, the affairs of the Taranaki damson Band- are in a sonu-wiat parlous state. Mr. Tisch, in touching: on the. sparse attendance of citizens at the meeting, expressed the hope hat the i irt r.msiaiU'C did not indicate the real feelings of the citizens towar.ls the Band, especially as 'the Band was always willing to assist at any functions, whether for charity or otherwise. That the citizens do their duty by the Band is evidenced by the number who become honorary members and pay their half-guineas. Do the Band, on their part, do their duty by the citizens? Take the last twelve monthshow many times have the Band come before the public? The occasions liave been so few and far between that one would have thought New Plymouth did not support a Band at all. The Band are supposed to give half-a-dozen municipal concerts a year—two in each ward—in return for the subsidy granted them, but they only found time last year to give four. The subsidy (namely, £1 ; 2) is small, we know, but if the Band undertake to give the concerts they should carry out what is an obligation. A brass band is a real asset to any town, and in no place more than New Plymouth, with its beautiful park and seafront, where a band cannot play too often in the summer months. The fact of the matter is that X?w Plymouth does not see enough of its Band, and until it does the Band cannot expect to get that support the absence of which they are at present lamenting. We are sure that u the Band would atiange to give concerts during the summer on Sunday afternoons, say, alternately at the Park and the seaside, financial response would not be lacking, both -in regard to collections and subscriptions by the citizens. During the past year, at any rate, tha later have not been 'getting their money's worth. The improvement of the Band's position is entirely in the hands of the bandsmen themselves, and, if we may be allowed to offer a suggestion, we would advise them not to trouble further about getting a meeting of citizens together to discuss t heir affairs but to frame a programme of Simday afternoon concerts and go right ahead. The public will do'the rest. As •for obtaining employment for bandsmen, citizens in the position might and no doubt will help. A good footballer is soon found employment if he requires it, and a good musician is a more valuable asset to the town than even a first-class footballer.