CITIZENS’ BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1921, Page 5

CITIZENS’ BAND.

RESIGNATIONS OF OFFICIAM’, CONSIDERATION POSTPONED. COMMITTEE TO MEET BANDSMEN. A meeting of the New Plymouth Cit!< zens’ Baud committee was held last! night to .consider the resignations oi Messrs. F. W. G. McLeod (conductor) < E. J. Sole (chairman), and H. R. Cattley (secretary), which were announced in Tuesday’s Daily News. There was a representative attendance of members, Air. McLeod, in submitting his resignation, wrote:—“After careful and mature consideration I desire to advise yon that I wish to give the committee three months’ notice of the termination of my appointment as bandmaster and conductor, as I desire to relinquish the position. \ “I find it difficult to give my reasons for this step, as the attitude taken ua by a number of bandsmen and otherrf is beyond my comprehension, and I feel that I am a victim of downright intrigue and misrepresentation. I knew of the presence of something of the kind nearly two years ago. Knowing this when the offer to go South came along at the end of 1919, notwithstanding that your committee had advanced my salary to avoid losing my services, 1 made it clear that unless the bandsmen were desirous of retaining me I could not ac« eept thqjr offer. “The result you all know. Representatives of your committee met a full muster of the bandsmen in conference and it was unanimously agreed that X should be urged to stay, some of today’s malcontents holding up botji hands for "my retention! On that occasion I made a few remarks of thanka for their ‘confidence,’ and Air. Sole called upon a representative of each section of the band to speak for his mates, and many very flattering things were said. - CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.

“Later on, February or Alarch, I think, a further resolution of confidence and loyalty . (when discussing contesting prospects) was again carried unanimously, some again holding up both hands and promising to attend practices regularly, with a view to attending the 1921 contest. I have yet to learn whether we succeeded in getting more than three full practices subsequently, in spite of the unanimous vote.

“I attribute the present discontent to my methods of insisting on a reasonable measure of discipline, to my firm stand relative to soliciting subscriptions towards a contest expenses fund, to send twenty or thirty men for a musical joy ride with little prospects of success, due, in my opinion, to want of preparation, and to the interest of good bandsmen being dampened by the lax methods of others. It is a significant fact that no one has had the pluck or manliness to come forward and air his grievances or discuss it in any way. The street/ corner has been preferred. lam prepared even yet to make good my position and condone the past, if these men will come forward and give me a square deal; unfortunately there are some I could not tolerate in the band again in view of their activities and questionable methods during the past few months. The financial phase of the trouble I will leave your committee to deal with. You will thus see that I could not retain my selfrespect and the respect of my friends and continue in office. I have to tender my best thanks for the assistance received from the executive officers ofi your committee and their untiring ef* forts.”

THE OTHER LETTERS. The chairman wrote: “After many year* of hard work in connection with, the present band I regret that owing to prevailing conditions it is impossible for me to carry on the work as chairman, and I am therefore Reluctantly compelled to resign my position as chairman of the committee.”

Air. Cattley’s letter stated, inter alia: “After several years as secretary to the band I regret that, owing to ;fhe present unsatisfactory conditions of the band, it is impossible for me to carry on the secretary’s- work of your committee. Therefore, lam compelled tc resign.” Air. Cattley thanked the members of the committee for assistance given him, and wished the band every success in the future.

In view of the chairman’s resignation being concerned, Mr. W. J. Penn was appointed chairman of the meeting. In a verbal explanation, Mr. Cattley said that some of the members had approached him for payment for services during the band’s engagement in the holiday period. They argued that if the committee could pay the conductor a big salary they were also entitled to remuneration. It had been necessary, the speaker 'said, to pay some £ 1 per day to retain their services. In answer- to an enquiry from Air. Penn. Mr. Sole said that he thought ije would bring the matter to a head by tendering his resignation. He felt he could not carry on under the circumstances. They were trustees for a large amount of public property, and he did not want to see the whole thing lost. Some people had refused to subscribe to the band because, they contended, it was not up to the standard it should be. They demanded a bigger band and madq sundry other complaints.

ANOTHER BAND.

Representatives of the band on the committee attributed the trouble to two or three who disliked the bandmaster. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., suggested that the committee meet the band as a whole. The chairman said it appeared as if the three resignations were all due to the £ajne reason, namely, the disaffection. He thought it would be a good idea to call the band together and put the position before them. Air. F. W. Sandford expressed tho opinion that the committee would be well advised to ask the officials to withdraw their resignations. To accept them would only be admitting weakness. Mr. Cattley said he understood that there was to be a meeting on Thursday with the idea of forming another band. Eventually it was decided that tfle meeting postpone consideration of the resignations, and the secretary was instructed to circularise the members of the band, stating that the committee would meet them at the bandroom next Tuesday night at 7.30 o’clock.