MUNICIPAL BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 6

MUNICIPAL BAND.

Your correspondent "0.N.," In endeavouring to justify the existence of the Municipal Band, claims that it is not an ordinary band in that it is a. military combination. While being quite willing to admit this, I am of the opinion that the statement does not in any way justify its being* forced on to the ratepayers as one of t'he unjustified liabilities for which they are expected to pay. It appears to me that your correspondent has never been present at a brass band championship contest where A, B and C grade bands have been giving of their best. Had he listened to the rendition of the Cairns Band or the Woolston Band in the test selection at the last New Zealand championships he would never have brought up Sir Thos. Beeeham's name when entering upon a campaign to retain a white elephant for the benefit .of the comparative few who understand or appreciate the classical performances usually put over by the Municipal Band. T quite fail to understand that the Municipal Band performances are free when it is costing some thousands of pounds to retain a body which cannot even earn enough to pay its own wages. To my way of thinking, it would pay the A.C.C. to grant an annual subsidy to be divided amongst some of the self-supporting bands of the city and have programmes of popular music rendered in the various parks by them. LARGO.