DUNEDIN BAND CONTESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 9

DUNEDIN BAND CONTESTS.

EFFORT TO RAISE FUNDS. TO SEND GARRISON ARTILLERY BAND. There was a very poor attendance of citizens and bandsmen at the City Council chambers at lunch hour to-day in response to an invitation to discuss a proposal to send the- Garrison Artillery Band south to take part in the band contests, to be held in Dunedin.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon) presided, and' said that he knew the Garrison Band to be a very fine one, and at the recent competitions it did particularly well. He wished those present every success in their efforts to raise the accessary funds to enable the band to take part at the Dunedin contests, j Mr. J. R. Williamson said the bandsmen wore only working men and were not in a position to be able to afford to pay their own expenses, and if they were to make tho trip it could only be done by securing financial assistance from the citizens. The amount required was*£soo or £600. He moved that a committee be set up to consider way* and means of raising the money. Mr. (!. B. Plummer said that the brass bands of Auckland had always suffered for want of public support. In Dunedin the citizens had provided the : means to enable their band to come to j Auckland, and he thought Auckland should return the visit. j Another speaker remarked that there had been a. certain amount of discord amongst the bands of Auckland, and he I could not see why only one band should go .south. As a matter of fact he ) understood other bands from Auckland I intended to make the trip and take part |in the contests. |. It was mentioned that 350 appeals I had been- sent out to citizens. The response so far was not good, but it j was expected that when the public j awakened to the importance of sending i a band to Dunedin contributions would come in freely. | : Tlie Mayor said that it was news to. him that more than one band was to be sent. However, that was a matter for the committee k> consider and settle, amongst themselves. A committee, with power to add to their number, was set up to' discuss ways and means of raising funds, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor.