AIR FORCE BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1934, Page 3

AIR FORCE BAND

. ♦■ —i SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL

"It must bo gratifying to all who fe.ro interested in the progress of the Now Zealand Air Force to sec that it , is soon to have its own band," said Mr. P. J. Goldfinch, president-of the 'Auckland City Boys' Band, and chair- * man of the Auckland Provincial Bands' ■Association, in an interview today. Mr. Goldfinch pointed out that in the Army .there were the district battalion bands, whilst it was a tradition of the Navy .to place the highest value on the maintenance of its bands. . It had been' contended, he said, that as the activities of the New Zealand Air Force would necessarily bo wide, it would be difficult to arrange a suitable field for the Air Force Band to function in, but Wellington, by virtu© of its position, was tho natural centro for the band. During tho past week, ■when the Dominion band championships - -wore held, there was abundant evidence that tho country possessed talent of the .highest order, and it was tho public's responsibility to soe that instruments of a worthy standard were supplied. It would be a matter of pride lor the Dominion if tho Air Forco Band were iuvitod to visit the Old Country in tho future and if a well-equipped and welltrained band were able to mako tho .trip. ' ENCOURAGING RESPONSE. The organisers of tho fund for tho establishment of the band report that steady response is resulting from tho appeal for ipatrons, and the names of several prominent Wellington citizens are among those who have subscribed ithe necessary guinea or more. A list of those who have made donations will probably be published shortly, and ithose who desire to assist should ad- ' dress their communications to the Air Force Committee, Dominion Farmers' Institute Building. At the last meeting of tho New Plymouth Aero Club practical support to the movement to establish an Air Force Band at Wellington was given in the form of a donation to the funds, and the club also decided to convoy its best wishes to tho honorary organiser. The president, Mr. Sandford, said that the establishment of a band should bring the Dominion-'s first line of defence more prominently beforo the public.