COMMITTEE IN THE DARK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 9

COMMITTEE IN THE DARK.

XEITHER CONSULTED NOR NOTIFIED. THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINS. The members of the Music Committee lent met, the chairman (Mr. H. Brett) presiding. " I have been told outside. during the past ten days," said Mr. Brett, i; that the Exhibition Committee *ere thinking of sending the Artillery •S»nd across to Australia. Although Aiirman of this committee, I have had no knowledge of any such intention, and so when approached on the subject, could say nothing about it. Personally I am delighted to learn that it has been P«tty well decided that the band will not be sent to Australia. That irand was pent out to our Exhibition, and I Mink, it would be very wrong for it to Oe sent to Australia simply for the puTP°=e of making money. Apart from that tie" band was sent out for the especial purpos e of the Auckland Exhibition—it is the great attraction there, and should « kept to the very last day. 1 certainly wmk that if, on its return Home, seeing "mt the band will embark at Wellington, that two or three performances might be o"ren at Palmerston North. Wanganui. But to take it away from fne Exhibition purely for a money-mak-ing tour would. I am sure, canse a general outcry. A« a matter of fact, this is the first committee on which I have enr sat where the chairman even had iju; .•••[•!i acquainted with what was being uiirrr, tiik pasraoN dt^iussed. Mr Elliot- Nothing has actually been (one. The band woidd not. have been fe pt to .Australia before the Music Committee had been consulted. If you blame "is for fretting information to "lay before

rou, then \ think you are not treating mc very well. "Air. Krett: You say the matter had osen previously considered? •-'i- r . Elliot:- No: it was simply die- I ciKsod. There was no specially-convened "Wtingr. and no proposal -made 'beyond "font hri-, been made to the full meeting 01 the committee tr. d t dive Lowe said ihe was in the position as Mr. Brett. The suib : «?mir,itVee had lieve-r considered the matter in : '. ]p very 6 i,;g Uteflt _ He quiTe Src?:| with the chairman that it would * a very foolish thing to send the band W of Auckland until they were obliged ™ d ° *o. ' It would have to go away, *>«'ev er . while the band contest was in Progress. J fr. -Holmes explained -that the arrangements made for the'hoard of the wad would expire on Jartraary«-31st. lie eiairman.- "WerH, what was the ™l e «t in asking Bj e Governor to obtain * months extension if you knew there f no accommodation- and you had no .'Mention of nsine- the band? -•ar. Holmes: 1 was merely instructed twf to make inquiries about arn Lngements. Nothing has J 1 * <*<*«a*i™ ha* not been

\- THE 'WHOLE ATTRACTION. Mr. G. Warren expressed the opinion that the band was the whole and sole attraction at the exhibition, and that immediately it -went the Exhibition might cl-oee. The chairman -conterrd-ed that as soon as negotiations .respecting- the hanA-bud taken place the president should have called the committee together lo Irave the matter discussed. "J don't thinJc we have been* treated ns a corrrmittee should be treated,'* he added. Mr. EHiot: 1 have ibeen trying to save your time. My only aim is to help to get a park for the people, and the financing of the whole concern is extremely important. Captain Priestley sa.id the men 'would like to go to Australia, so I asked Mr. Holmes to cable finding out if arrangement-; could be made for the men to go Home via Australia. The chairman: No one appreciates more than myself the -work you have done, tbttt 1 certainly think we should -have been notified fiooner of this proposal. BAND LEAVES DOMINION MARCH 3. •In reply to further Jnqtririee, Mr, Elliot explained that the band would •leave Wellington by the Ruapehu on March sth. Referring to the proposed trip through New Zealand, he thought it would give the people a little rest from the iband -if it went a-vvay for a few days. It would then come 'back fresh, and the last fortnight before its departure should 'boom. Tbe chairman expressed the opinion that the Southern tour, including the Rotorua trip, should not exceed ten days. A SEVENTEEN DAYS' GAP. Dr. de Olive .Lowe, after some diseuesron, moved that the bandr .be allowed to- tarrr fro-m ten to fourteen duys. two or three days of such period being spent at Rotorua, the rest of the time to be devoted to concerts iv the main centres; and, further, that the bund should spend tbe last .fortnight prior to its departure, from the Dominion at the Exhibition, (Mid that, two concerts be given in the Town' Hall before it left. 'Ultimately it was agreed, on the motion oi Mr. Gregson. that seventeen days should tie allowed for the Southern tour, including the- visit to Rotorua, and that tbe places to be visited should be Palmerston Norch, Napier. Wellington. Christehurch, Dunedin, and Wanganui. Mr Elliot said he would have an itinerary drafted and submitted to Mr Brett. Mr. Holmes explained that the band would give an orchestral-ooncert in tbe Exhibition grounds next Wednesday night.