MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERTS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 13

MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERTS

to th» isnro* oi tbi pmss. Sir,—With the approach of the season when we may expect municipal band concerts on city and suburban rotundas, J feel I should like to bring to the notice of those controlling the concerts two points, which I am sure will give thought Jor consideration. In the first place I should like to point out that J am resident opposite the band rotunda at St. Albans Park, and my remarks. apply to conditions as they have prevailed at St. Albans during the last three band concert seasons. My first point is, that, seeing that a sum of money is allotted each year for band concerts, amounting to more than £IOO, by the Christchurch City Council, and agreeing that the money is I well spent, would it not be worthwhile spending another pound or two in advertising the concerts on the morning of the day on which they are to be given. During the last three years to my knowledge there have been no newspaper notifications that a band will play at St. Albans rotunda. On the other hand, it has often been published on the day after the concert that a band programme was rendered by such and such a band on St. Al- | bans rotunda last night. If people knew there was to be a band playing they would set the evening aside and attend, and get the enjoyment provided. I trust that this season notice will be given of such performances both In the newspapers and by canvas notice on the park gates. My second point is in relation to band concerts on wet, stormy nights. It has repeatedly occurred that band night at St. Albans Park has been a very wet, boisterous night. I have seen the Woolston, Municipal, Brighton, Stanmore, and Perry's Bands pjay a full programme of eight items to one person—the caretaker. The caretaker was there only because he had to lock | up. Surely (in spite of each band contracting to give so many concerts in a season) our bandsmen who give willingly of their services many times during a year's work could be spared the danger and discomfort of sitting out in an open-air rotunda playing to nobody. The position, when that happens, proves the ridiculousness of the clause that the programme must be rendered or played at a later date. I should like to see our municipal band control committee abolish these wet night band concerts and give its fee to the band which was to have played. The bands deserve this consideration, and to ask the men to sit out and risk their lives on cold, southerly nights, with not. a listener about, is quite unnecessary. Perhaps a few moments' consideration of these two points will result in a better service to the music-loving citizens and a lot more comfort to our worthy bandsmen.—Yours, etc., C. R. SMITH. September 13, 1937. FARM MANAGERS' WAGES TO TUB BBlTOfl OJ" T»JB EBEBS. Sir,—ln reply to a letter which appeared in "The Press" recently, complaining about the wages paid to farm managers, I certainly do not think that £2OO a year is a fair wage considering the worry and responsibility the position carries. Anyone in any other business with the same amount of resoonsibility would receive a very much Higher wage. I myself was foreman on a very large farm employing about a dozen men. I had to Plan out their daily work and see if everything was oroperly done. Although the owner managed, I was responsible for the whole working of the farm, including sheep and cattle, and the boss considered I was well paid at £l7O a year—very little more than a tractordriver gets. In "Farm Manager's" letter he had a I tilt at the so-called farm managers. Well, it is certainly very amusing to see the men who call themselves farm managers, men who are left in charge while the boss is away. Though they proudly tell everyone they meet they are the manager, they cannot do anything wtthouf the owner's approval. This attitude is often encouraged by the owner, Jt being rather important to tallf about r, my manager," though if anyone suggested, his inability to manage his own place he would be very insulted-—Yours, etc., FARM FOREMAN. September 13. 1937,