WHY NO BANDS?

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1917, Page 3

WHY NO BANDS?

FOR LOCAL RECRUITS

RESULT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

It has been remarked that recruits from Wellington City when being marched through the principal streets on their way to camp are not. now headed by a band playing lively military airs. This lias been specially noticeable in the case-of the last two drafts that have gone into camp. A Post reporter made enquiries to-day of Major A. A. Corrigan, officer commanding Group 5, with a view to ascertaining the position. Major Corrigan, in reply, said the explanation was that he could no longer get a. baud to play Wellington City recruits into camp. On the 10th inst., in view of past failures, he had circclarised the various bands^n Wellington City and Suburbs as follows :—

"The Secretary,—The sth Wellington Regiment Band has given its services honorarily since the beginning .of the war in heading the Wellington draft of recruits marching to Lambton-station to entrain for camp. The time has now arrived .when it is reasonable to ask other bands in the city to lend a hand. Drafts go.in approximately at the beginning of each month. Will your band give its services honorarily in taking a turn on these occasions ? The band would be required to assemble at the Drill Hall, Buckle-street, on whatever days'they would agree to help. The draft marches off punctually a.t 9.15 a.m. for Lambton-station, where the band services 'Would terminate, the whole time occupying oiie hour. I will ,be glad to hear from you.—(Signed) A.' A. Corrigan, Major, commanding No. 5 Group." The above letter was sent to the following bands, practically the whole of which rely on the Wellington public for support; sth Wellington Regiment, Central Mission,- Senior Cadets Band (Kilbirnie), Wellington South Pipe Band, Waterside Workers, Tramway Band, Salvation Army, Native Assocation, Patriotic Band. Major Corrigan, proceeding, said that so far the result had been most disappointing. While the sth Regiment Band was still willing to do all it could, he had only received..two. replies from the other bands concerned. The secretary of the Natives Association Band ' had written stating that it could not.be arranged,, as it was hard to get the men from their work and so many lived out of town. The secretary of ,tlie Tramway Band wrote that he was placing the matter before a committee next week. Major Corrigan added that the next draft of recruits would go into camp next week.