LOWER HUTT BANDS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 6

LOWER HUTT BANDS

Questions and Answers at Council Meeting

X spirited reply was made by the mayor of Lpwcr Hutt, Mr. J. VV. Andrews, at last uight’s council meeting in giving reasons in response to a protest by Cr. W1 A. Hall as to why the Municipal Band was not invited to pluy a t *be Anzac Day and Coronation Day services. The mayor said he had to put up with anonymous correspondent on the subject of this baud, and on the other hand he had to deal with complaiuta from shopkeepers, who objected to its playing outside their shops. Cr. Hall opened the matter by asking if the band had been invited to play on either occasion. Councillors would have read in the Press of the confusion which arose at Christchurch through the participation of too many bands, replied the mayor. This year only one band was required, and he could not possibly think of any other band but the Civic Band in the circumstances. Cr. Hall: I wish to record my protest .... / 'The mayor: You asked your question and you have my answer. In elaboration Cr. Hall said the Municipal Band gave great service to the borough prior to the formation of the Civic Band. It should have been invited to play. The mayor said he admitted the prior service of the Municipal Band. This year, on Anzac Day, there was only a fourth of the persons on parade as in the previous year and one band only was required. On the previous zknzac Day he had done his best to bury the hatchet by inviting both bands to play. He allowed the Municipal Band to lead. He asked the two bands to play the marchpast under the baton of the Civic Band conductor, but when the time came the conductor of the Municinal Bund also stepped out and there the spectacle of two bands playing the same piece to the direction of two bandmasters. He also asked both bands to play in turn at another stage of the proceedings, but when the turn of the Civic Band came to play the Municipal Band continued on also. It was an affront.

The Municipal Band had played without permission on children's reserves where no adults were permitted. It had played in the main street to the annoyance of shopkeepers who could not transact business properly because of the noise. It had been asked by means of registered letters to desist, but had ignored the letters and continued to play in the main street. That was the position and if Cr. Hall were not satisfied with that he would be pleased to hear what would satisfy him. Or. Hall said that with exercise of proper tactics and goodwill the two band s would work together. The Mayor said he had been one of the biggest financial supporters of the. Municipal Band until the difficulties arose. Now there Was no man more villified than he. The council now bad a band of its own (the Civic) and he hoped it would stick to it while he was mayor and after.