BAND INSTRUMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 3

BAND INSTRUMENTS.

RETURN DEMANDED.

AFTER TWELVE YEARS.

PONSONBY BOYS' ORGANISATION,

A demand by the Defence Department for the return of certain musical instruments, which have been in possession of the Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band for nearly 12 years, is causing the band executive some concern, as it is considered the return of the instruments will seriously affect the future training of recruits unless replacements are made, and the band is not in a position to face such an expenditure at present.

"The instruments of which the Department is now demanding the return," said Mr. A. G. Brown, secretary of the band, "were, I am given to understand, used in France during the war >by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and afterwards were lying in stock in Wellington for about 18 months. Just on 12 years ago the Defence Department, through Major Wallingford, approached us, and said that the Department was desirous of having a cadet band. The conditions were that in return for us agreeing to turn out for 12 parades in senior cadet uniform and while on parade call ourselves the No. 1 Senior Cadet Band, the boys would be exempt from drill. It was mentioned also that there were a number of secondhand instruments in Wellington which would be handed over to us if required. We took advantage of the offer immediately and have had them ever since.

Boys Trained Free. "The Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band was formed in 1916 as a society for the betterment and welfare of the rising generation through the medium of music, all boys being musically trained free of charge, and no less than 200 first-class musicians have been turned out to date. Every two years approximately 25 recruits are taken in hand, and it has been the method of the society to give the recruits a practical training on the well-worn second-hand instruments received' from the Defence Department nearly 12 years ago. "We cannot understand the attitude of the Department in demanding the return of these instruments, which they state arc required for a military band, especially as the instruments are unsuitable. Onr organisation is known throughout the Dominion as the gionee* of boy band movements, and for its assistance gratis to all charitable and worthy causes. An appeal was made .to the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, to delay action until he has had an opportunity of fully investigating the matter. He has replied that the band was taken over as a cadet battalion band on July 12, 1921, and as all cadet companies were disbanded last year the band ceases to be a military unit. He also points out that the instruments arc urgently required for issue to various unit bands in the northern command, and regrets that no further time can be given."

" Merely Lent." When the matter was referred to the Defence authorities they refused to reply to Mr. Brown's statement beyond saying that the instruments are the property. of the Department, that they were merely lent to the Ponsonby Boy,s' Brass Band, and as the latter is not now a defence unit, and the Department' is desirous of forming a cadet band of its own, it-is necessary for' the Department to have the instruments returned. The Department is not permitted to give away any Government property.