MOUNTED RIFLES BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1918, Page 3

MOUNTED RIFLES BAND.

TROUBLE OVER IRISH CONCERT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Oct, 3. By order of the officer commanding tho Auckland Military District, the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rillcs' Band did not perform in the Town Hall last night at the Irish concert, for which it had 'been announced.

The programme as submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Seymour was headed God Save the King. These words were omitted from the advertised programme and from the souvenir programme, while at the end God Save Ireland was printedThe programme also contained a portrait of Robert Emmet and part of his speech from "the dock. Colonel Patterson issued instructions that tire 'band should not attend, and wrote to the promoters:— ( :' Had we known the programme was to be printed in such a way as to introduce an atmosphere of politics, we would no(j, in view of the King's regulations, have accepted the engagement* Before the Irish concert opened the orchestra played a verse of tli« National Anthem, in which the clergy and audience joined.

Auckland, Last Night.

Regarding the band at the Irish eoncert, the secretary of the Concert Committee states that the written acceptance of the engagement 'by the band ?et forth that th* Vaiti would play certain enumerated Irish items and God Save the King. The committee selected the "Shamrock and Ireland," and tht secretary of the band was informed that the committee wished the band to open the concert by playing God Save the King. This was agreed to. Next morning the adjutant of the Mounted Rifles informed him that Headquarters refused to play, on the ground that the concert was political Colonel Patterson subsequently informed him tliat the programme vas deemed to be of a political character, on three grounds: (I) That it had on the cover a map of Ireland and a harp, :but no crown; (2) that it contained a photo of Robert Emmet and part of bis speech; (31 that God Sove the King was not printed on tiue programme, whilst Godi Save Ireland was. Colonel Patterson, in reply, states that the decision to prohibit the band was arrived at after perusing the full programme as printed in souvenir form.