The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1910.

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 6

The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1910.

According to our judgment a valid caso is made out by tho Kaikorai and Kaikorai Band in re- ; Other Bands, sped to tho request for public assistance. The origin of the Band’s financial embarrass- j rnent was a laudable endeavor to create a strong fund from which to supply all tho needs of such an organisation in the front rank. That venture failed, largely because bad weather caused a limited attendance at the open-air entertainments. Out of these facts wo get the first of several claims for consideration of the present appeal. There was in the first place a strenuous effort on the part of the Kaikorai Band to help themselves. One’s sympathy naturally goes out to those who are plucky enough to make a struggle on their own account. They can afterwards, with a good grace, call out for help. In the second place we perceive force in this argument: that, having unluckily got into monetary difficulties, the Kaikorai men put their hands into their not-too-deep pockets and brought forth what they could afford to partly pay their debts. Here again we have the self-help that is so much approved by proverb and sentiment. This point may also bo made : that the Kaikorai Band, in spite of their ill-luck, would not bo driven to this appeal if they were content to jog on with their old and worn instruments. Thanks to the skill of the players and the resources of their conductor, tho Band can oven now play well —so well as to win in a contest against bands that possess better instruments, i 'I bis sort of thing cannot, however, go on indefinitely. Kaikorai’s wannest friends had to confess during the recent contest that tonal quality was maintained with difficulty, and if no change is made | there must come a day when, like the onehorse shay, the whole concern will col-’ lapse, and the instruments from sheer decrepitude fail to respond to the calls of the players.

Besides, the Kaikorai Band aspire to a much higher position than a mere jogging on. They can play, and they want to play their Lost, not simply for ordinary purposes, but in order to have a chance to meet the Wanganui Band on fair terms. This is in the interests of the public. As a fact, the whole purpose of the Band is to servo the community, and this has been fully proved by tho readiness with which the uniform has been donned for charity concerts, for public functions, for garden parades, and all tho usual occasions on which brass music ie needed, and the individual members of the Kaikorai Band never take a penny for themselves. A recital of the Band’s general services would show a sound claim to the assistance now sought. But the appeal has a special reason behind it. Every resident of Dum. edin and suburbs would like to see Kaikorai meet Wanganui, and that is the intention if new instruments can be purchased. .We. commend the eubscriptiou

list to the friendly notice of all who have enjoyed the playing of this very competent Band. If a penny is cast into the bag for every cheer that has been uttered during the past twenty years the total will buy the best set of instruments that money can command. What say ye, citizens ? Are your hurrahs empty and false ? Or do you intend to answer with those shillings that are now asked for in your own interest? Just a word as to our bands in general and their relation to the municipality. In the past they have been shabbily treated. The so-called subsidy that they were supposed to get panned out so inadequately that some of the performers offered to pay a shilling to be released from the obligations. We maintain that, altogether apart from a wish to foster good music, it would pay our City Council to suitably support the bands as an inducement to tramway traffic. The Hibernian Band drew a goodly crowd when they recently played at the St. Kilda rotunda. There might be two open-air concerts a week during six months of the year, one at St. Kilda and the other at the Gardens, and wo are sure that the tram returns would produce enough to pay the Bands well and leave a decent profit. This is putting the matter on a low level. The elevating influence of the music, and the encouragement given to good playing, are considerations that cannot be measured by money.