PUKEKOHE BAND AND THE ORANGE PARADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 184, 6 August 1927, Page 8

PUKEKOHE BAND AND THE ORANGE PARADE.

In your issue of July 27 vou public t report of a meeting of the Pukekohe Bonmzh Council whereat the Mayor (Mr. John Booth) moved: "That the council write t« the hud intimating that it desired it to refrain from attending such functions in future." I desire to state that the band is a properly incorpor ated society, elects its own officers and conducts its own affairs. The membership is voluntary and members do not receive my remuneration for their services and are in no way controlled by the Borough Council. It is true the instruments were purchased bv subscription from the public and were placed with the council for safe keeping in the erent of the br.nd at any time ceasing to function, and the council has the right to appoint s custodian, whose duties are defined by the band rules. But this does not give the Mayor or the council any right or title to dictate' to the band for whom it shall or shall sot play. The band attended the parade as aa engagement r.nd were not concerned with the question of partisanship or otherwise. This engagement has been an annual one for the past eight years or more and no exception bai been previously taken. J. PATTERSON. Pukekohe.