MUNICIPAL BAND WANTS SPONSOR

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27993, 13 June 1956, Page 14

MUNICIPAL BAND WANTS SPONSOR

Appeal Made To Fire Brigade

The firemen of Christchurch are to be asked if they want to adopt - band. The Christchurch Municipal Band, which is seeking a sponsor, last evening appealed to the Christchurch Urban Fire Authority for its assistance.

■ The municipal band—once the Christchurch Tramways Band—nowwants to become the Christchurch Municipal Fire Brigade Band. “Poverty has been our bugbear,” said Mr W. Deer, who led a deputation of three to meet the authority last evening. “If we were attached to the brigade we would have the assured support of a large body of men, their families and friends. This would probably be every bit as much help to us as a subsidy from the board.”

He cited the precedent in Auckland, where the Auckland Fire Brigade had adopted the former Auckland Watersiders Band and the members of the band served as auxiliary firemen. “Our problem is our name.” said Mr Deer. “We are known as the municipal band, but we receive no special support from the Christchurch City Council. People who think we ® re .. a council-sponsored band are not inclined to give us their support.” Mr W. R. Campbell said that there v , ere no auxiliary firemen in Christchurch. and band members could not J heir services in that way. Under its constitution, said Mr A •E B. Turner, the authority could not subsidise an organisation such as th* band.

After the deputation withdrew, the authority indicated its sympathy with Jhe proposal, and asked the Chief Fire Officer . (Mr L. R. Ormond) to obtain the opinion of the men. “Without their support the idea is Jost.” said the chairman (Mr J. E Jones).