FAWERA BOROUGH BAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 9 October 1913, Page 2

FAWERA BOROUGH BAND.

DISCUSSED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

At Wednesday night's meeting of | the Hawera borough Council, the ! Band Committee of the Council re"- ' ported that before paying over the an- I nual subsidy it made enquiry into the finance .and condition of the band affairs generally. The committee found that ttie equipment, instruments and uniforms were in fair order and that the members of the band seemed to attend fairly well to their duties at practice, etc. The accounts and books of the band were examined by the committee, but they were kept in such an unsatisfactory manner that the committee was unable to obtain from them any information as to the working of the band. The committee recommended that the Council retain a sum of £5 from the annual subsidy, and that that sum be: paid to some capable person to act as secretary of the band and to be held responsible for the proper keeping of the accounts and books. The committee considered that at most this work should not require more than, a couple of hours' attention per week, and that £5 would be ample for the purpose. Cr Morris, who is a member of the Band Committee, moved the adoption of the report. He said the committee had gone very carefully into the affairs of the band and found that they were carried on pretty well, but that what was wanted was some competent person to keep the books. Cr Bone, also a member of the committee,'seconded the motion. Cr Morrissey thought that it would be better to suggest to the band that £5 of the subsidy be used in payment of a secretary. He thoxight that would possibly meet with the wishes of the band. He -moved an amendment in this direction. There'was no seconder, arid Cf Goodwin moved another amendment that the band be given the usual subsidy of £25 and an additional £5 for payment of a secretary. He thought the band needed to be encouraged. A good band was quite a necessity to the town, and they could not get a good band without encouragement. Cr Bone seconded the amendment pro forma. The amendment was lost. Cr Reid then moved a further amendment that the Band Committee of the Borough Council confer with the members of the band with reference to the question of subsidy and secretaryship before doing anything further in the matter. Cr Goodwin seconded this, and it was carried. ! It was understood that the Band were to receive the full subsidy for the present year, and that the committee's renort" had only reference to future subsidies.