Bandsmen say good-bye

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33191, 3 April 1973, Page 2

Bandsmen say good-bye

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 2. As the nostalgic strains of “Now Is the Hour” drifted across the Waiteniata Harbour from the Takapuna City Silver Band on Saturday night while the P and O liner Oriana left Prince’s Wharf, one of the bandsmen collected a milk shake over his head. On a previous occasion bandsmen were struck by beer cans and air rifle pellets. Now the four bands which entertain passengers and well-wishers at the passenger terminal on the wharf have had enough. They will no longer serenade cruise ships. “Now Is the Hour” will probably be piped out over the terminal loudspeaker system in future. The New Zealand passenger manager for the P and O company (Mr P. B. Dunnlngham) said today his firm was sorry that it had to stop the performances.

“We like them, and we want them, but we can’t put the bandsmen in a position where they could come to some harm,” he said.

The secretary of the Takapuna band and the Auckland Band Association (Mrs J. Hookway) said the intimidation of bandsmen was the work of “irresponsible idiots.” ' u .> . j Bandsmen. she said, had

been cursed, spat upon, and struck with missiles. Although there were always policemen and security officers at the terminal when a liner left port, it was difficult to detect the troublemakers in the big crowds. Mrs Hookway said she was concerned about the safety of the younger members of the band, some of whom were only 13 or 14. She was disappointed that the band had been forced to stop playing on the wharf because, with a performance payment of $5O, it was an ideal way to raise funds.