CITIZENS' BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1917, Page 4

CITIZENS' BAND.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of supporters of the New Plymouth Citizens' Band was held in the Soldiers' Club last night. There wrs an attendance of about 50, including several ladies, and in the absence of the president (Mr. Cock) f4 tt* opening of the meeting, Mr. C. \MM& was voted to the chair. COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

the report of the committee |or the) past year, a synopsis of .which has already been published* was ' -read and adopted. The chairman said he felt that the splendid work done by the band last year deserved the thanks of the public, Rnd should not be allowed to pass without comment. Mr. H. Goodacre-agreed with the chair" (nan that the band had done. excellent! work, first because of the enterprise of the committee in securing the service* of a first-class bandmaster,"and secondly because of the energy, enthusiasm and «apj ability of that gentleman. He wished toadd a word of praise to the bandsmen I themselves, especially for.the way they had turned out on each occasion that

men were leaving for camp. Mr. E. J. Sole, chairman of the committee, said the balance-sheet, which had been made up to the end.of December, was satisfactory, but he confessed to disappointment in regard to the contributions. They had, however, assets valued at £IOSO, so that in this respect they were on a good wicket, hut if 'they had to rely on the proceeds of their recitals they would probably go bung. The Jockey Club, Agricultural. Society and other bodies had treated them very liber' ally, but it should be remembered that for attendance at races and shows gome of the bandsmen had to be paid for lost time He felt strongly that • th" band would be justified in'appealing to the public, especially as there was one matter Jhe incoming committee woujd have to face, and that was the erection of o new band room.

BANDMASTER'S REPORT. : The annual report of the bandmaster (F. W. G. McLeod, L.T.S.), expressed his gratitude to the citizens of New Plymouth for tho way they had' stoo'd by the band throughout the year. Those who had regularly attended their recitals and had the welfare of the band, and music senerally, at heart had contributed very liberally indeed. He was gradually getting the community to realise the fairness of the band's business methods, particularly as regards charges for their services. He proposed instituting a systematic method of charging for all parades, except church parades and patriotic gatherings, at which no revenue is obtained. Thanks were due to Mesdanies Frederic (nee Smith) Wilkes, MacKellar, Misses M. Peart, K.' Bennett, Messrs Norman Day, F. Hooker, Wi P. Okey, C C. Reid, Corrigan, (Joldsworthy, and Eli lis, The band's thanks were also due to Miss Cocker, Miss Hirst and Captain Allen for assistance, at the .Empire Day concert. Personally he had been engaged in going through the whole of the 1 band's music, which he proposed to catalogue The time had come, he submitted, when another bandroom must be found, and he recommended the matter for serious consideration. He submitted a list of nineteen members of the band who bad gone to the front, and stated that although the membership was now about the same as last year there had been many changes in the personnel. The juniors were very keen on rehearsals and the improvement of some had been really marvellous. He wished to place on record his appreciation of the solid woHc done by the band as a whole: All theil engagements had been carried out in a thorough manner and every man had en> deavored to give of his best in the interests and for the welfare of the band. As to the financial year he suggested it should terminate at the end of March ot April. The present date, December 81 „ was awkward for many reasons and cut tho earning season right through the centre. In conclusion he again thanked all who had assisted the band, and assured the citizens of his earnest desire to raise and maintain a high standard of efficiency. Mr. McLeod, who was invited by the chairman to supplement his report with a few remarks, said he had little to add, except to further emphasise his feelings of gratitude to all who had assisted the band, and his great appreciation of the loyalty of the bandsmen, and the keen interest they had always shown ja the band. Mr. R. Cock suggested 'that steps, should be taken at once to raise funds for a new bandroom, and said that ;to set the ball rolling he would give £5. Mr. P. J. White moved: "That the Incoming committee be instructed to make all necessary investigations with regard to the erection of a new bandroom $t an estimated cost of £SOO, and to proceed with the work at once."—Carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuhtg year resulted as follows, all, being appointed unopposed:—Patron, the Mayo'i (Mr. C. H. Burgess); president, Mr, W•T. Penn; vice-presidents, Archdeacon. "Evans, Messrs E, J. Sole, G.'W. Browfie, A. Hooker;'E. Cock, and A. S. Brooker; 'citizens' committee, Messrs A. Milne, P. White, C. Bond and E. Kibby. A special vote of thanks to Mr. E. J. Sole for his valuable services in the pa6t, and the customary compliment to the other retiring officers, closed the meeting,