N.Z. BAND’S TOUR OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26944, 21 January 1953, Page 6

N.Z. BAND’S TOUR OF BRITAIN

Mr Parsonage Replies . To Mr Estall MISGIVINGS HELD TO BB UNFOUNDED (New Zealand Press Association) I WELLINGTON, January 2Q. The proposed tour of Britain by a New Zealand brass band this year had been carefully planned, and there was absolutely nothing risky about the venture, said Mr H. Parsonage, vicepresident of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association in Wellington tonight, when he replied to comment by Mr R. J. Estall, conductor of the Woolston Brass Band. Mr,Parsonage said it was because of the association’s desire to obviate any possibility of risk and its determination to ensure that the tour was Slanned on a sound financial basis iat’ some caution had been displayed in determining the programme to be undertaken. This in turn had given rise to recent criticism about publicity for the band in Britain. Had the association been prepared to embark on the tour on the basis of only specially-promoted feature concerts, which might or might not be a financial success, as against definite contract engagements with an assured income, then Mr Estall’s suggestion that the venture was a risky one might have been justified, Mr Parsonage said. Mr Estall would be the first to admit that brass bands provided music for the masses, and it was never intended that the New Zealand band should be presented merely as a concert band, said Mr Parsonage. It was nonsense for Mr Estall to assert that New Zealand players had nothing to learn from the tour. Mr Parsonage said that a feature of the band was the number of youthfulplayers included in the band. Two were only 17, and the average age of the bandsmen was 25. These young men would undoubtedly benefit greatly < from the tour. The tour would be some recognition i of the unstinted public service which these and hundreds of other bandsmen gave to the New Zealand public, Mr ] Parsonage said. e "There is absolutely no question of risk about the venture,” he said “The New Zealand band will be presented , to the public of Britain in a manner which will display the talent available. , m the Dominion, and which will | further enhance .this country’s repu- ? tation with its kinsfolk in the United | Kingdom?*