ORCHESTRA FORMED.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1921, Page 5

ORCHESTRA FORMED.

UNDER R.S.A. AUSPICES. SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS COMMITTEE. At a meeting held at New Plymouth last night it was decided to form au orchestra, to be called the New Plymouth i Returned Soldiers’ and Citizens’ Orchesi tra. I The proposal was initiated by the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the president (Mr. A. M. Mac Diarmid) occupied the chair.. There was a attendance of members of the association, and also outside musicians. In opening proceedings the chairman said that an orchestra had been a longfelt want in New Plymouth The executive had, taken the matter up and it was hoped to obtain the co-operation of players who were not members of the association. He remarked that the first aims of the association, namely, to watch the interests of returned men in regard to repatriation, were gradually being fulfilled, and in the future the work would be more in the social sphere. The association did not want to have complete control, but being the originators would desire a good share in the control.

It was stated that twenty-five players were forthcoming, and this number would probably be increased to over thirty. The meeting then decided that an orchestra be formed. Rules adopted by the meeting provide that, except when on special engagements, the basis of the orchestra be a strictly amateur one. Financial members of the R.S.A. are automatically eligible as members of the orchestra, and instrumentalists outside the association will be selected by the committee on being proposed by members of the orchestra. The control will be in the hands of a chairman, secretary, musical director and committee of six, three of whom to be elected by the R.S.A. The subscription for all active and honorary members was fixed at 10s 6d per annum. It was decided t*he chairman and secretary of the association (Messrs. Mac Diarmid 'and .Roper respectively) should fill similar positions on the orchestral committee. The personnel of the committee was selected as follows: Messrs. R. Murphy, G. Jackson. L. E. Smith (association members), 11 Skelton. F. Willis and H. G. Moruan. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Mr. R N. Renaud \va§ appointed ijaugjsaljikettax.