THE PALMERSTON BAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9857, 27 July 1914, Page 6

THE PALMERSTON BAND.

(TO THI SDITOH.) Sir,—l feel that Sir Woon by hi? letter to-day needs enlightejimr. somewhat as to his id fa# of the warns ofth# Palmcrston Band. In the .first let' me stats that I am not po|s .My j&oon know by how, maijy .pqinti. the, band. wsr# ■•pirated from tW> wither* ia the A Grade test seWiohsT I tall him; i» tH«~ firat by 20 points and in the second by 17 point*. This result I consider by no means unsatisfactory under certain conditions. Does he also forget that the nmi band finished second in the "Quickstep," beating, with one exdeption, all the track bands of New Zetland in musioal points and scoring' 95 out of a possible 100. I consider there ia more honour in paining ■K*fc points for music while marching than there is when sitting down to it. It is quite enough advertisement for the town to bring a prize back at all. when there were other bands in the A Grade contest who took nothing back with them. Mr Woon has been misinformed a* to the attendance at the Esplanade when last tke band played there. He could not have been there himself or lie would not make such a statement. The band hare not played a programme before the public for the laat 18 months with less than 20 players, and one player was present last time without his instrument, being at. tha tima unfit to play. If Mr \Voon would consent, perhaps the band would place him on tho executive committee. Then, perhaps, it would not be so disheartening for the Mayor in the future. In reference to the musioal library, Mr Woon would do well to remember that the latest music ia not always the best, and although the band do keep up to the times, a lot of the old material will take some beating. Can .Mr Woon state publicly if one present member of the band has made any remark to the effect that they are not grateful to the publio for their valuable assistance in the i*a.sk, and when, may I ask, has br seen a collection box out for the band. Touching upon joining another body to raise funds, the beat thing Mr Woon could do would be to enquire more closely about the burden of the work during the carnival before he rushes into print. His letter is very misleading, and he evidently is miles wide of the mark. He also should understand that the band art not a company of territorials, nor yet paid servants, that they should need (to use his ow» word) prestige. The persons who freely state that discipline is not prevalent among its members cannot ever have been in close proximity with them. I hope Mr Woon is not labouring under a delusion about an expenditure 15 times, as much as the £IOO subsidy; for much less than that a new set of instruments and uniforms have been purchased. I don't think the band will require the' same again next year, and the next best thing is to give them a chance to prove the "try out." Referring to the soloist question, which our friend has not touched upoi, I might say there are a lot of things that could wreck the band (as Mr Woon puts it) much more easily than that, but I can tell him the PaJmersion Band is still a very seaworthy boat which will take a lot of upsetting, And the professional soloist could work aa smoothly here as it docs in other bands in the Dominion.—l am, etc., P. COWLISHAW. Palmerstoa North, July 25. (To rsi Editor.) ,®*F» —By his reference to the conductor, the indefatigable hon. sep, of the Band attempts to draw a Ted herring across the scent. I haven't the slightest desire to continue the correspondence any further and would not have commenced it but for tne in-, sinuations made a? to why I moved in the direction I did. As one of their trustees for the time being, I would plainly fail in my duty to the ratepayers if I do not, when I consider their money is being spent unwisely and unjustifiably, endeavour to prevent such expenditure. I hope to always do 90, especially when the subsidiary bencficiaree nave [just made a public appeal resulting in the I handsome addition of £350 to their funds, as in the caeeof the Band, per medium of a Queen Carnival.-r-I am, etc., DO . h. r. Woon. *.•- * think it is up to the Band's executive. now that it has been so substantially subsidised, to pay its untiring ihon. seo., Mr Charles Pike, an annual J honorarium of twenty guineas. His service* [are honestly worth that.