CITIZENS' BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1918, Page 7

CITIZENS' BAND.

AJvNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the New Plymouth Citizens' Hand was held at tho Soldiers' Club last night. Prior to the meeting the band, wVsch was in good strength, played a programme of selections in front of the building. Mr. W. J. Penn presided over an attendance of about 40, including several la-dies. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs F. W. Sandford and Ilandlev.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The committee reported a very satisfactory year, despite war difficulties. Ihe accounts were a record, but they covered a period of fifteen months, owing to the alteration of the date of tho closing of the financial year. Of tho 3S recitals given, six were free for tho past summer bofough subsidy and three for the previous year. Of the amount received from engagements a large portion had been handed back in the shape of donations to the bodies concerned, while a further portion had gone towards reimbursing men for actual los 3 of rages. Practices have been held regularly, tw'o nights per week for fourteen out of the fifteen months under review. The band has attended tlie farewells to tho reinforcements every month. The junior band supplied the music at a garden party at Mrs Walker's, in aid of St. Mary's Church, the Ngamotu Committee's School Championship Sports, and the Benefit Sports in aid of Pukekura Park. Reference was made to the urgent need for a new bandroom, and the efforts made to raise funds for building a room. Tlie chief means was a carnival held at Pukekura Park, which realised a sum of £2ll 8s Pd, and put the fund on a good footing. A contract has been let for the erection of the room at a cost of £730. During the year the conductor formed a reed class iu connection"vith the junior band and there are now seven students in the class. Thanks was expressed to tho bandsmen who had loyally- stood by the committee and the conductor, to tho ladies and gentlemen who helped to make the canii al a success, to the Tftranaki Jockey Club for their handsome donation, to the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. C. H. Burgess) and Mrs Burgess, to Mr. A. J. Tunbridge, hon. auditor, to the general public for their support and assistance, and to the press. Suitable reference was made to tho death in action during ths year, of Bandsman Corporal Albert Mason. The statement of accounts showed the total receipts to have been £1133 9s 2d, including a balance brought, forward of £l4O 4s Bd. Engagements, donations, borough subsidy and members subscriptions produced £5Ol 10s, and collections £2-14 15s Oil. The expenditure amounted to £O9O 2s 7d, including donations to various funds and organisations amounting to £l4l 4s. The balance to credit was £437 0s 7, which included £229 12s !)d allocated to the bandroom building fund. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said he thought there were very few towns in New Zealand that were as well served in the matter of band music as New Plymouth. . The town, and the hand aa well, was verv sreatlv indebted to the conductor for his ent-husiastie direction of tho bind. He thought the amounts raised for patriotic, purposes Tere a great credit to the band. The commithad omitted to express it j. thinks to Mr. T. Hughes, who, during the absence of title bandmaster, had taken control of the band on several occasions. Mr. E. .T. Sole seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously without discussion.

BANDMASTERS REPORT. The bandmaster (Mr. P. W. 0. McLeod), in his report stated that the year had been a particularly busy one. Thirty-eight public recitals and eighteen public engagements had been fulfilled. Many requests for the band's services from all over the district had been declined as, on account of labor shortage the men could not reasonably ask their employers for the necessary leave. The men frequently had to "strain a point" to fulfil ■the engagements that were undertaken. The ranka of the senior band had been still further encroached upon, but the progress' made by the juniors had made it possible to fill all the places Forty-one players were receiving free tuition at the .hands of the citizen's committee, and of that number seventeen were playing in the senior band. The band members were eagerly looking forward to the opening of the new bandroom in Leach street, which is now In the course of erection. Of the men who had gone to the front, Bandsman Bert Mason, had during the past year made the supreme sacrifice, and the bandmaster pxpressed his regret. pn<J sympathy with the relatives of tlie deceased. It was intended to have an "Honors Board" erected in the new bandroom on which would 'be inscribed the names of bandsmen who had taken part in the great war. In conclusion Mr. McLeod thanked the bandsmen • for their support during the year, and the employers for the readiness with which they had given the men leave. The band had been asked to give a recital on behalf of the Women's Patriotic Committee, and when that had been fulfilled, performances were to be discontinued for a period. Mr. C- T. Mills moved the adoption ot the bandmaster's report, and a vote of appreciation of the services rendered by !)im and the band during tlie past year. The. motion was seconded by J.'r ' Brooks and carried with acclamation. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as fid low*:—Patron, Mr. C H. Burgesspresident, Mr. W. J. Penn; wee-presidents, ((lie Ven. Archdeacon Evans, Messrs E. I. Smith, A. S. Brooker, and 0. E. Bellr'nirer; committee, Messrs A. Milne, R. KiUbv, C. Bond, and P. White; hon. auditor, Mr. A. Tuiibridge. Borough Council representatives, Bandsmen Coleman, ITandley, Brooks, and M'Donald. GENERAL.

"Referring to tie work of the immedir.te» future, the chairman said that the -rineipal purpose at prosent was to get ; the nevr bandroom completed. Owing I to the fact that so many calls 'had been 1 made upon tihe public, it had been deI ' "led not to make a personal canvass ' for funds, and a loan had (been arranged, j w'fli tfte .privßeje of repayments .by In- ! ■ f-ilments whenever the band had money 'ivailablc. It was proposed to hold ?. 'iriivnl in October next to supplement the building fund, and the committee was of securing a full measure of ! -iiVin -support. Tt was hoped that the ifvatid, by it# own efforts, would? at an '■(irly date, free the new room htm

iM'l. The present co.-.t of the band was about £7 per week, ilaay cii the band'.-; engagements had been for -patri<»tiu purpose:;, and for these no payment had been received. Mr, I'emi intimated that he was prepared to follow the example of the president who retired last year, and donate £5 towards band funds. (Applause.) Mr. M'Leod referred to the hope of the junior -band- In that connection, he said the boys were very kee u students and were making remarkably pond progress. TTe also paid a tribute to the assistance rendered him personally and the band by ex-Bandmaster Hughes, who. o n transferring his interests from Waitara to New Plymouth, had offered to "plav anything" or do anything he might bo asked by the conductor. For a man of Mr. Hughes' ability and jxpeiience, he I considered that was a very considerable service. Some discussion took place on the proposal of the Pukekura Park Bofrd to take 25 per cent, out of tho gate t"" bigs at all public functions held in the Park, several of those present consider "<t it would unfairly penalise the ha-"' Eventually a resolution, moved hv Mr, W. C. Weston and seconded T,v Mr. R •T. Deare, was carried, recommencing the committee to take +(he matter into con■••iflprntion and endeavor fo effect a compromise, seeing that the band is a public institution. ' A cownrehensive rot* of thanks, including tflie chairman and tho outgoii""ommittee. the bandmaster and tV hand, and also ex-Bandmaster Hughes, was earned with acclamation.