RECEPTIONS TO SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 36, 13 February 1919, Page 7

RECEPTIONS TO SOLDIERS

'A statement was made to the press on fhe 6th instant by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G., M.P.) setting forth that every time a band turned out for the reception of wounded soldiers a sum of £10 had to be paid to it, also 7s 6d per man for loss of wages. Captain Goffin (conductor of the Wellington City Salvation Army Band) has asked us to state, in order to remove a misapprehension from the minds of a goodly number of the public, who might think that other than patriotic motives prompted his band turning out to these functions, that the Salvation Army Band has not received a. penny for patriotic services during the last four years from Mr. Luke or any other source, other than a cheque sent a month ago, and this was offered by Mr. Luke, without any sugges..on on the band's part. The cheque amounted to £3 3s. The Salvation Army Band has turned out to "a large number of receptions, and is quite prepared to do so again, so long as the employers adopt the same generous abt-i-. tude they have done in the past. It is a strange fact1 (says Captain Goffin) that one of our men who is an employee of the council had his wages "docked" for turning out with the band for a reception, arid whilst dining thejour years* of war the men have, in some instances, stood the loss, besides buying, their own uniforms and music, Captain Goffin thinks that at least the men should be reimbursed for any loss of money as a result of asking off work. The Captain would like it to be clearly understood that the_ Salvation. Army Band has not been paid for its services during the last four years, and is quite prepared, if reasonable notice is given, to continue to attend receptions gratis, and so conserve the Patriotic Funds for the benefit of the returned men.