Appeal for City Brass Bands

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 68, 13 December 1932, Page 11

Appeal for City Brass Bands

Sir, —May I be permitted space to plead the cause of the Wellington brass bands? As the bcm. secretary of the Wellington Combined Bands’ Association since its formation iu 1927, I am able to speak from experience—both as an official aud an active playing bandsman—of tbe actual positiou the city brass bauds now find themselves iu, through flic lack of public support, and other causes already mentioned in the Press. Mr. 11. D. Beunett. outlining the position iu a statement issued to the Press, has by no means exaggerated tbe positiou, as disclosed at a meeting of representative bandsmen held recently, and, without unduly labouring the point, I could, if space permitted, paint a much darker picture. I would like to advance the following reasons as justification for an appeal to the public for sympathy and financial support. Firstly, the voluntary service rendered by bands to charities and public objects. Secondly, that the Government and the civic- authorities throughout New Zealand, by virtue of grants and subsidies to brass bands in the prosperous years, recognise that brass bands are an asset to the community at large by the voluntary service already mentioned. Thirdly, that the Capital City of the Dominion, the seat of the National Government, with the many functions that have to be given on historical occasions, sueh as Anzac Day, arrival and departures of foreign dignitaries, etc., must always call upon the bands to provide the music essential to tbe function being given, and at no time have the bands refused to play their part, sometimes at considerable personal inconvenience and financial loss to themselves. Fourthly, the New Zealand Brass Band Association, tbe controlling body of the band movement, was formed solely for the purpose of encouraging bandsmen to obtain proficiency, and, as a stimulus, promote national contests for that purpose, so the general public are asked to recognise their efforts by assisting the bands to attend these. contests. The Dominion .Championship Contest will be held at Dunedin in February next and all other centres are to be represented by their bands. Wellington, however, cannot be represented unless the public respond to our appeal for financial assistance to send the two A grade bauds of Wellington—Port Nicholson Silver, present champions, and the Wellington Municipal Tramways Bands—to Dunedin. To attain that object tho bandsmen of Wellington and suburbs are combining iu an appeal to raise funds to send these bauds to the contest. —I am, etc., A. BUCKLEY, Hon. Sec., Wellington Brass Bands’ Association.