HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY BAND V. SWIMMING COMMITTEE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2580, 24 January 1889, Page 2

HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY BAND V. SWIMMING COMMITTEE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Please allow trie to explain to the people of Hamilton through your columns the position of the Hamilton Light Infantry Band rc the Swimming Sports to he held on the lake on the 29th inst. In the first instance, I received a letter from the Hon. Sec. asking the servicps of the baud for NOTHING in lieu of a donation. Afterwards ] was requested verbally to give a price for the band, which I did after consultation with the band, viz., the band oifered their services for the sum of £o 5s ; the swimming committe thereupon sent one of their number to the baud practice to see what amount the band would subscribe, when the members put down their names to the amount of £1 2s Gd, which, adding the whole amount of one member's share at least eight shillings, would make a reduction of t'l 10s Gd, leaving a balance in cash to be paid by the committee of £'3 14s Gd. Yet, in the face of this they decided to accept the tender of the Ngaruawahia Band of eight men for £3 10s. Since our offer was made, a member of the band and another prominent citizen more than made up the difference. Now, sir, what has the Ngaruawahia Band done for the people of Hamilton, that the said people should be asked to subscribe funds to pay them for playing at the Hamilton Sport-? My band have done their very best to amuse the public. For three months during last winter and autnmn we played every Saturday night. We also played all day for the tree-planting beo at the Lake Reserve and for four or five other charitable or public purposes, and have never refused our services for any purpose if deserving, and 1 cannot think that when there is a prospect of earning any money, the said money is to bo sent to support an outside band even if our own costs a little more, which in this case would not apply, as the cost of tho H.L.I. Band is actually below the cost of the other band. In conclusion I may tell ,

yon that several of the members of the Swimming Committee who were on the late Sports Committee have held out threats that they will never subscribe to the band again. In looking over the published names of the Swimming Committee I only find eight names out of the 37 who have given the band anything, the pmpeser and seconder of the resolution accepting the other band's tender never having given one FAHTiiiXG to help the band, which accounts for their clamour for the band to play for nothing; in fact if it were possible to raise a blush on the rubicund face of the last-named, let him think of what the band had to put up with 011 last Boxing night after doing their best for him and the pp„rty ha was associated with, r t nd now he helps others and leaves the local band to starve until next time he wants their services. I will leave it to the public of Hamilton to say whether it is better to support an outside baud or their own, and I hopo they will show it unmistakeabiy by their subscriptions to tha great aquatic gala.—Yours truly, (tKOKGE P. MliTTA.tr, Bandmaster H.L.I. Band.