New Zealand’s First Band.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 4

New Zealand’s First Band.

The Hutt district was probably the first in New Zealand to have a band, said Sir Alexander Roberts at a Lower Hutt Municipal Band meeting last night. Sir Alexander said that in 1841. a year after the first settlers landed at Petone, there was an organisation of 13 players. It was short-lived as were others that followed. New Zealand in 1839. A hundred years ago, on January 25, 1839, according to an item appearing in “The West Britofi,” a paper published at Truro, Cornwall, members of the Truro Institution listened to a lecture on New Zealand, given by Mr I. Latimer. It would be interesting to know exactly what was said about New Zealand in those days but unfortunately the report does not give any particlars of Mr Latimer’s address. Ready for Mobilisation.

“It is the duty of the defence force to be prepared for mobilisation at any time,” said Colonel E. Puttick, D.S.C., A.D.C., who visited Wanganui to inspect officers in the district. He left for Hawera and New Plymouth yesterday. Every branch of the defence force in New Zealand was prepared for instant mobilisation, said Colonel Puttick. He considered that the voluntary defence forces in the Dominion were fairly efficient. Recruiting was being done satisfactorily, though sufficient could not be done in a day. Till compulsory training came in—if it was going to come —advocates of it should do their best to help the forces that were in existence, said Colonel Puttick. These forces were the men who would face any crisis that did occur; the defence of'the country depended on them. Communists Banned.

After less than five minutes’ discussion the annual conference of. the New Zealand Labour Party in Wellington yesterday rejected by an overwhelming majority a remit urging that the ban on the Communist Party, the Friends of the Soviet Union and other Communist auxiliaries be removed with the object of forming a united front. The decision means that the present position, under which Communist organisations are not allowed to affiliate with the Labour Party and their members are not eligible for individual membership of the party, will continue. Two years ago a proposal to allow affiliation was rejected by 512 votes to 14 and this year the majority was even greater. No count of the hands was called for.

Office of Governor-General. A remit submitted by the Clinton branch, that the appointment of a New Zealander be considered when the present Governor-General’s term of office expires, was referred to- the Government for consideration at the annual conference of the New Zealand Laboui Partv in Wellington last night. A remit from the Auckland Amalgamatec Society of Carpenters and Joiners suggesting that the Government discontinue the present practice of recommending persons for titles was also referred to the Government for consideration. The Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, outlined the principles which guided the Government in recommending orders or titles, which, he said, were recommended only for distinguished scientific or social services.

Women Magistrates Suggested. The contention that it would be in the interests of the community generally, and women and children in particular, if the Government appointed women magistrates and more women justices of the peace, and expedited the appointment of women police was advanced in a remit which came before the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party in Wellington yesterday. The committee to which the remit was referred, reported that it understood there was nothing to prevent women being appointed magistrates, but that few were eligible as few entered the legal profession. It recommended that more women take up this profession, and that there be always at least one woman on the bench in children’s cases. In view of the statement made to the conference by the Minister in charge of the Police Department. Mr Fraser, that applications were now being called lor. the committee had no further recommendation relating to the appointment oi women police. T&e conference adopted the committee’s report.