CITIZENS' BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1917, Page 2

CITIZENS' BAND.

annual report and balance. SHEET. The annual meeting of the New I'lvuioutli Citizens' Band is to be held on luesday evening. The committee in the course of a lengthy report state that results proved conclusively that it was a wise step to appoint a first-class professional man to control the of the band, and. not only wore the bandsmen benefiting, but also the community generally, because the Junior Band was jroinn- to be a tolling factor in the work at no far distant date. Already they were assisting materially in the work of the seniors, and with a continuance of this awful' war this fact was going to be more and more pronounced. The Junior Band was an opportunity which -ps not given all towns of a similar si- r educating the younger generation i: giving them a thorough musical course in brass band work absolutely free. Mr. McLeod's capabilities had apparently been recognised m other musical quarters, as the New Plymouth Male Choir, recently organised, lad given him the position of conductor I that body, which the committee ofI fered its best wishes.

The report refers at length to the big patriotic effort assisted by the band last October, when a soldiers' comforts week ■was organised by the ■ Patriotic Committee at the suggestion of Mr. McLeod who acted as secretary and organiser! resulting in the sum of £11572 10s 7d being obtained for the soldiers' comforts Week and tobacco fund. Reference was made to the borough subsidy, which had been £25 for 0 recitals, but had been increased to £SO, with an additional £lO from the trams if the Act would permit. This was still considered too small, and it was felt that if the times warranted it, a larger sum would have been voted, especially in view of the band's work as a revenue prof 'cer. The report referred at length to the trip to the Mountain in January In February, owing to ill health, the bandmaster (Mr. McLeod) was given leave of absence, immediately after the autumn race meeting, at which the band's playing delighted visitors, anil the committee thanked Mr. Hughes, of Waitara who took charge of the band during his absence. The committee had resolved: That all applications for the services of the band for foreshore functions bp not considered more than two months prior to the date of the said engagement." This was done in order tliat the committee might be in a position to consider each application on its merits, and not feel bound to give preference to the first straight-out application for the services of the band, ■ as when these bodies were conducting gatherings on the same day, such a course tended to place the band in a false position. Some system of rotation might get over tha difficulty. Some action would have to be taken Bt an early date to provide a new bandroom. The position with regard to the present building was not very encouraging, and it was not considered safe during the currency of a wind storm.

The balance-sheet presented a very satisfactory state of affairs. During the period from the arrival of Mr. McLeod on March 24 up to December 31. 1910, the band gave no less than twenty recitals for various purposes—gratuitous or at which a collection was taken up. This did not include parades for engagements. The collections totalled £29S Bs. £143 3s fid went to patriotic and other funds, £4l Ms was the Christmas box to the bandsmen as the result of the special effort on their behalf, While the balance (£ll3 14s 7d) went to the band fund for upkeep of expenses, The public were thanked for the splendid way they have contributed to these recitals, no matter what the object.

The municipal concerts were faithfully carried out, although interfered with on several occasions by bad weather. The retiring officers are:—President, Mr. B. Cock; vice-president, Messrs. G. W. Browne, A. S. Brooker, Arch. Hooker, Era. Sole and Archdeacon Evans'; lion, auditor, Mr. A. J, Tunbridge; secretary, Mr." H. R. Cattley; lion, treasurer, Mr. E. 1, Humphries; committee: Messrs. 13. Sole (chairman), A. Milne, C. Bond, P, H. White and Jas. McLeod (representing the citizens), Messrs C. C. Ward and E. L. Humphries (representing the borough council), and Messrs F, Coleman. P. Brooks, J .Jenkins and W. Coulthard (representing the baAdsmcn). During the year ciglit meetings were held, the attendances being as follows: —E. Sole. A. Hooker 8; F. Coleman 7, C. Bond, P. Brooks 0; 0. W. Browne, A. S. Brooker, A. Milne, W. Coulthard 4; C. C. Ward 3, Archdeacon Evans, J. Jenkins 2, E. L. Humphries, P. H. White, Jas. McLeod 1. • The band had been registered under the Societies Act. The committee increased the salary of the bandmaster to £2OB per annum, it being arranged that Mr. McLeod was to teach both seniors and juniors.

The usual custom of Christmas carolling by the bandsmen was not indulged in. Instead, the conductor recommended that a straight-out "benefit" be tendered to the bandsmen. Mr. McLeod gave a most enjoyable band and song recital in Pukekura Park a few days prior to Christmas. Direct donations to the bandmaster and the collection at the recital netted £4l 10s. Mr. McLeod declined to participate in this "divide."

The balance-shset showed receipts to have been £491 2a lOd (engagements £42: collections £2OB 8s Id; donations £100; borough subsidv £22 10s; sale grotesque heads £2O; fire insurance £8 2s Cd. Expenditure: £48(1 3s 8d (the principal items being: salarv of conductor £175; secretary £l9 lGs 9d; members lost time £5 19s lOd; donations £lB4 13s Od; music £ls 8s sd; printing and stationery £32 15s 8d). The balance in hand at the end of the year was £146 4s Bd, an increase of £4 19a 2d. The donations made by the band were: Naval battle fund £2O Ids: soldiers' comforts £3B 19s 3d; Boys' Hioh School £4O 19s; Kawaroa Park £7 Ids: East End Committee £5; Christmas for bandsmen £4l 10s; Okato Patriotic Fund £23 13s 3d.