MILITARY BAND AND AN IRISH CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 4

MILITARY BAND AND AN IRISH CONCERT

"GOD SAVE THE KING" OMITTED FROM THE PROGRAMME.

By Telegraph-Press Association.

s Auckland, October 3. By order' of the Officer Commanding the Auckland Military District the Third Auckland Mounted Rifles Band did not perform in the Town Hall last night at an lrisli concert for which it had Ijsen announced. The programmo as submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Seymour was beaded '.'God Save the King." These, words were onnUed from the advertised programme, also from the souvenir programme, while at the end "God Save Ireland was printed. The programme also contained a portrait of Robert Emmet and part of his "speech from the dock. Colonel Piiterson issued instructions that the band should not attend, r.ncl wrote to the promoters: Had va known the programme was to ,be printed in sucli a way as to introduce the atmosphere of politics wo would not, m view of the King's Regulations, Have accepted an engagement." Before the Irish concert opened tlio orchestra played a yeita of the Aational Anthem, m which the clergy and the audieuce joined. ■ Tli'e secretary of the Concert Committee states that the written acceptance of the engagement by the band set forth that the band would play certain enumerated Irish items and God have the Kin"." The committee selected "The Shamrock and Ireland," and the secretary of the band was informed that the committee wished the band to open the concert .by playing wa Save the King." Thiswas agreed to Next morning the Adjutant _ot me Mounted Rifles informed lum that Headquarters bad refused to allow 110 bend to play, on the ground that the concert was a political one. Colonel Patterson subsequently informed . m that the programme was deemed to bo OS a lMilitical character 011 three grounds: (1) That it had on the cover a map or Ireland and a harp, but no crown; (-) that it contained a photograph or Robert Emmet and part of his speech; (3) that "God Save the King" was not printed 011 the programme, whilst faod Save Ireland" was. ■■■ Colonel Patterson, in reply, states that the decision to prohibit tuo uana was arrived at after perusing the lull programme as printed in souvenir lorm.