THE CITIZENS’ BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1921, Page 5

THE CITIZENS’ BAND.

CHANGE IN CONSTITUTION. | TO BECOME MILITARY BAND. i Important matters affecting the constitution and designation of the New Plymouth Citizens’ Land were discussed it a special meeting of the band comI mittee last night. Mr. E. Sole, chairman of the committee, presided. The meeting was called for the pur- ' nose of discussing a proposal mutually suggested by the military authorities and the band, committee to attach the band to the 4th Battalion, Wellington Regiment, and thereby obtain valuable assistance from the Defence Department in the matter of the supply and maintenance of instruments and uniforms. In other words, the proposal in to me.ke the band a territorial band, controlled by a citizens’ committee, with two military representatives. Bandsmen will, under the proposed conrt/iturion, be enrolled in the military forces, whether <i i age, over or unde: age, but those out- ; Bide the military age will be exempt (from military duty excepting as requirjed ns a military band at encampments and on special occasions. The dress will be the regulation territorial uniform and engagements of ihe band will be under I the reasonable jurisdiction of the DeI fence Department. | In opening the discussion, the secretary. Mr. H. R. Cattley, said that in with Messrs. Coleman and S. IG.1G. Smith, M.P., he had interviewed i | Lieut.-Colonel Cox at Hawera. in regard ; to the suggested arrangements, and the i outcome of the interview was that the i conditions enumerated above were ; agreed to. Lieut.-Colonel Cox had ex- ! pressed a desire not to interfere with I the constitution of the band, but had ■ pointed out the advantages accruing by the change. Tire general tone of the meeting was • unanimously in favor of the change, the chief bone of contention being whether • the matter should bo submitted o the > public or be decided by the committee I at once. Messrs. G. W. Browne and C j • Bond stoutly opposed any decision on , i the subject until the public had had o ; ; voice, their contention being that since | the public had supported the band for a | number of years any proposal to alter ' | its name and constitution .should not bn 1 ! carried until the public had been con- i ' suited.

| Mr' Browne said that he wished to make it clear that he was not .antagonistic to the proposal, but he considered •t his duty as a vice-president of the band, and therefore a trustee of the public, to oppose a drastic alteration without first obtaining the consent of the public. He said that if the defence auuhoritiee had control of the band’s engagements it would be taken away to I the Easter militar; encampments and i they would thus lose the chief revenue I earning season in New Plymouth. The { oublic had always been called on to fin- [ -.nee the Land and they should control I it. He was of the opinion that if conItrol wore placed in the bauds of the | military the public sympathy and enthusiasm that had been the hfe of the ) band would be loet. lie considered it would be a betrayal of the trust reposed i?n the committee by the public to hand Uie control over before allowing a public voice in the matter. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., said that Mr. Browne had not brought forward any tangible reason why the change should ' not be brought about. The admission of military members on the controlling committee was merely a matter of altering the rules, and the alteration of the name was of no importance. As to the loss of enthusiasm and sympathy if the control were altered, he said that taking the annual meetings an a criterion the enthusiasm displayed was very little. 'He did not doubt that a public meeting would favor the change and it would be only incurring unnecessary expense and loss of valuable time. The (runt , they owed the public was to d<» the bes. for the band, and' there could he no doubt that the proposed change would be in its very best interests. The committee was of no use if it had not the I power to act. The chairman said he considered this was the greatest opportunity the band • had ever had. He saw. only disaster ■ staring them in the face if something 1 were not immediately done to bring re lief to their financial position. They ■ were faced with the immediate expend)- f ture of £6OO for the maintenance of i the band and the funds could not be obtained from the public. A golden spoon was put in their mouths by the Defence Department and it would be a farce to go to the public and ask if they might, accept the proposals. He mentioned several South Taranaki towns that were ■ trying to get the instruments and uni- i forms offered by the department for a ' regimental band, and New Plymouth ! would be extremely lucky to get in first. ! Mr. Smith moved: “That the O.C. j Xlth Regiment be informed that this ! committee is agreeable to accept the: conditions suggested by him under i which the New Plymouth Citizens’ 1 Band will become attached to the 4th .Battalion, Wellington Regiment, and that the necessary steps be taken to give I ■ effect to this resolution.” 1 The motion was seconded by Mr. A. ; | Hooker. Mr. Browne moved ns an amendment | that the matter be submitted to ti pub- • iic meeting for decision. Mr. R. Kibby seconded. Mr. Smith’s motion was carried, only the mover and seconder voting for the amendment.