AN "INDIGENT" BANDSMAN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 440, 24 February 1909, Page 5

AN "INDIGENT" BANDSMAN.

: Last week,, at the meeting, of the. Benevo-' lent/Trustees, a past .member of the "Kilties" band "appeared before the board; and asked for assistance to .pay his. passage home. He stated 'that tho management of the' band,' when lie met with au. ; ,accident,in the : south,, .left .him; and refused .to his.-passage.-home.: He further stated that it was no use his cabling home for money, as lie had a wife, and three children/.there, : entirely dependent on' the small sums he was able; to ,save. from his wages. . Yesterday the secretary, of the trustees, read the following letter from Mr. T./.P.; J. Power, manager of tho band,, dated Haweray February 17'—■. ."Your favour • of tho loth just . to hand. I would say that I ami very, much surprised that. Mr. —— tries to.convey.the ; idea r that ho was left stranded in-the souths and as a■ matter■ of fact lie, said 'at ; the hospital "he had seven or eight: pounds in hand and one of our; men'gaveTiim four more,' and: later I .sent him three weeks' salary, and/a. ft./ days ago .one of our boys made up a purse of about £10. ' This amount is to cover ', hospital and' doctor's expense.As far as sending hiin home . is' concerned, that's a ■matter he_ will have to take care of himself. Mr. --^—' is p. man of : means'. - He holds thrto fino properties in his home city which bring him.a fine sum monthly. He iilso.boasts.of:nav:ing a . fat bank account,''/and:' that • he.. only came On this trip to seis the world, and'have. ,;a.. good: holiday. Mr.; Mattice, :.'• one.. of'. the "Kilties," hais written Mr.saying if ,hewants, to borrow': any money to go home he' ; will lend hiin the necessary amount, knowing ho is perfectly/good. ; ! think it's the beggarly way in which ho wants to'-get* home. , !\Vo have : men .in the band from his home town in America/that know all about his wealth, ahd.also know, of .his friends- in Melbourne/ so we feel he is far better off to' buy his'ticket home than any .of us are. Any further information, regarding - {Mr'"— —'V: financial ■'■..standingwill be gladly given,- if you wish it, at any time." . ,r/ "■■. The next day Mr/, Power sent the following telegram;-=-"Please.. show my ~ letter,,. editor' {Dominion. - statementfalse:"' :

Y The secretary stated^that. he had seen nothing of this indigent' bandsman Since .the last meeting,' and the board; therefore decided to.take no further action -in,.the. matter.