THE BAND TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 94, 16 September 1914, Page 8

THE BAND TROUBLE.

MEETING OF CITIZENS' COM.iIITXEJi. A CONFERENCE PROPOSED. A meeting of the citiaens' band comBiittce was held hust night Air. 0. VV. Browno presiding. The chairman formally reported that tho .band had returned; the whole of the instruments, with tilie exception; of two horns, which would coiue to hand in a few days. He fcaid tfhat it was for tlie meeting to decide what sort «f band New Plymouth was to have. Personally, he favored a mixed rend and ibreies band, which he considered would be moat suitable for the town. With reference to finances, he raid the committee had spent in the two years it htul been in charge a little over £6OO. When the fomniit'tee tyyk there w»s $ tfebt on now Instruments of over fiofl, now 1 educed to £4O. One of the greatest difficulties of the 'band web in geftting leading cornets, but the committee had removed the excuse made by th-o ba-nd for not playing out—that they had 110 leading corndt .player—by securing and subsidising a player. Another matter wjs that there way a deartu of young members. Mr. 10. Sole said the trouble all along as to bandsmen was their not being itble to get employment. Tlie chairman stud tihere waa £930 in hand, £BOO of which was on deposit at £i per oent, tlhe j-emaind 3r 'being at the I'ost Office. This money, 80 far as he y.'M concerned, would be spent only on instruments and uniforms. He moved that steps be taken to form a military band—'brass and reeds. 'J he motion was seconded by Mr. E. Carter. Mr. Sykos considered it wag a great pity -that trouble had arisen over tne bandmaster. lie did not thmk it rair to jump up agajiiht the tembmon with a reed tend. He pointed out that the fector which produced .the befrt bands v. as competition, and Ire wotikl liko to see tho old bandsmen have a fair deal, it seeme-d a. grmt pity that 28 men rn the old hind should be passed orut, and he .moved that a committee of fire residents of tlie town, disinterested <pa-r'.ies, together with five membra of the late band, toe asked, to confer '?n the matter. 'Tile chairman pointed out bhaifc title bandsmen had notified: that they would not play in New Plymouth .witter any other bandmaster than Mr. Cummins." Mr. Sjfkes contended tllrnt hho committee was not "playing tho game'* by | n«ft sticking to the people who had appointed them to do ft certain work. It . wa-9, 110 said, a disgrace to the towa not to 'hiwe a 'band 1 . Mr. Sole challenged the members of tilie committee to resign and stand for re-election lo t<>fct wuethcr tlie committee bad the confidence of the public, lie s-Monded the amendJn'ent. Archdeacon Evans favored tho proposal for a conference. He considered very great difficulty -would he found- in getting' play-em of wood instruments, and he doubted whether thoffo could be found sufficient players outside the late band for tlie 'brass instruments. -He therefore strongly favored a conciliatory policy, so as to secure a iand worthy of the town. Mr. SVlces said that when tha committee was appointed there was no question of their interfering with the musical arrangement's, their function being to manage the finances of a b-rsiss band, not a reed band. M.r. Ellis urged that arr endeavor should be made to get a reaJ'ly first-rate bandmaster, nob t'lia-t he made any reflection on Mr. Cuanmins, but in tho best interests of the town. At the same time, if anything could be done fro, bring the •k-m-usmen to reason he would welcome it.

In reply 'to Mr. Sole, tils chairman til a toil that ho considered New Plymouth should have an A grade band, anxl that wus why he advouated advertising for a first-class eondiactor.

Mr. Lister said that if lis thought Mr. iSykes would geti -what he was miming at lhc wouikl support his motion, bait he did not think tflio desired result would 'be attained in tJh&t way. lie claimed ttat the Hand! bad keen fairly treated, and added that 3te would do anything towards getting a ifiivSt-claas Lund in New Plymouth. The chairman Bitggested that the amendment should bo prefaced by the words, "Before taking atopa to form a new band." Ho paid he was not wedded to a reed band, his one desinie being to obtain the best band possible. Mr. Sykea accepted the suggeation, 1 fliid altered his amendment to read: J "Hat ioefosre taking &tiep3 to form a new 'band a con ference to deal witlh the' pre-sent position bo held 'between five j disinterested citizens, five members of i tlie committee, and live members of the band, it being a condition precedent' that the bandsmen will nlide Iby cite decision arrived at, the conference to re-1 Fort to the committee, who will also' mbide by the decision. I The amendment was canied, I The following citizens were nominat-' oil:—Bis Worship tha ifctyor, Mcßsra' Bradbury, F. Bollringar, g. W. IShkW,. and W. P. Brooking. I The following monitors of tSiG com-1 mittee wera appointed:—The V*n. Arch-1 deacon Evans, Mwwirs Browne, >2llß, lis 1 tor and Tabor. I Authority was given to the diaiftnan i ami secretary to sign cheques. I Accounts amounting to £34 wera pas-' Jted for payment-, j