HERE COMES THE BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 8

HERE COMES THE BAND.

Please allow me to reply to Mr. A. E. D. Fairburn's denunciation of bands, bandstands and all, in favour of a ladies' lavatory. It is an epic of civic pride. Why not a free for all wash basin—you know, "use our soap, but bring your own towel" sort of thing? It would be much quieter, and I believe Mr. Fairburn abhors noise. So do we, and I would point out that there is a vast difference between music and noise, but I think the best piece of Mr. Fairburn's note was his objection to being disturbed by the band blaring and clanging. Well, we can promise Mr. Fairburn that if he keeps his ears just as loosely closed as he has been in the habit of doing during the Sunday afternoons of the past year he will find himself quite oblivious to this alleged din. I feel sure he could not have heard us, judging by the tone of his letter, and then again, he would have been down with the rest of the musical people to put sixpence or maybe a shilling in the box. The fact of the matter is that, for the expense of it, the bandstand is as useful a piece of t public property as could be found. It could, and most likely will, be used as a rest place for people in summer, or as a public speech platform or for open-air services of any kind. One realises, too, that everyone has rights of opinion, but Mr. Fairburn should put himself on side by coming down to hear us first; and as for his footpath—well, I am of the opinion that Mr. Fairburn has just used the bandstand as an argument to have his footpath gilded or diamond-studded, or whatever his opinion of a first-class footpath is. HARRY HARGREAVES, Hon. Secretary, New Lynn Band.