Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1st., 1929. MUNICIPAL BAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1st., 1929. MUNICIPAL BAND

THE Greymouth Municipal Band’s report for the past year makes fairly good reading, excepting in the important matter of finance. A debit of £285 carried forward has been nearly doubled as the result of the year’s operations, and the position must now be seriously considered. Tile town has cause to be proud of the Band, and grateful to it for services rendered. The musicians, by constant prae-

tice, have reached a high standard of proficiency, and the honours won are very commendable for so small a town, without professional inducements attracting outside expert players. The occasional concerts given, indoors and out, are appreciated by the audiences, and it is agreed that without the Band Greymouth’s patriotic and sporting gatherings would be much the poorer.

So much for the players.. What of the general public they seek to serve ? On the whole, it must be agreed that the community is responsive. The Borough Council makes a liberal grant out of public funds, and assists in supply of bandroom etc. Many individual

residents of the town are honorary members of the Band, subscribing annually, donations are forthcoming from others, and when special appeals are issued, a fair measure of support is forthcoming. The citizens have many calls on their purses for various local objects, and thus have to allocate proportionately of their means to these friendly competitors. The Band seems to get its fair quota.

The weakness in the financial position must be sought elsewhere, and it seems to be in the somewhat ambitious policy followed. For instance, is the Band really justified in incurring the great expense necessitated by appearing each year at the Dominion competitions, irrespective of where these are held? Last season, the cost must have been considerable to send the Band to Wanganui, and indeed

every competition attended is a real blow to the Band’s finances. The question of what degree of musical triumph is attained does not enter into this present issue. No Band could hope to go on winning, and the Greymouth organisation has done remarkably well so far. But can it afford to be so regular a comI petitor ? All will agree that the in- ! dividual bandsmen, acquire useful hints from these gatherings, and that the Band’s standards of playing should be enhanced by such opportunities, but is the cost always justified? The Band cannot continue adding to its deficit at so alarming a rate, so unless the executive can contrive means of increasing th'e receipts in the Borough, it would be well advised to devote its serious attention to decreasing the expenditure outside the town.