BANDMASTER FRANKLIN WELCOMED TO TOWN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6676, 1 August 1928, Page 7

BANDMASTER FRANKLIN WELCOMED TO TOWN

t.i vh. i. vt .. p BRIGHT RECEPTION PROM: .... BANDSMEN AND CITIZENS . There was a .pleasant social fua'ctiou in the Palmerston. North Band Hall last A evening when the band and citizens extended , ft-welcome to the new band* master, Mr. ,-E; Franklin, who, until te* cently, was in charge of the Kaikorai ; Band,.Dunedin. -’ ._ • , 1 ;Mr. M. Hi • Oram,, chairiuan of • the , • Citiions’ACommitee, presided- over a large gathering, and in his introductory. remarks, stated that the evening: stood : as a Tod-lotter day in the -history of' the. band, and- hoped it:would be-the turning rpoint'for goodi The band had had, a .chequered career- with many ups v and downs. Tho question of the con- . ductorship had been discussed, .yery fully, and itjhad been decided to secure the beat possible man fdr that position'; - Applications fhad^beeiti called whenAit'. Was, -, hoped ? ih»t jMr. Franklin would , accept the position. He';had done so to ; thmr gratiilcaUon. Mr. Franklin really*;;.;, needed .no ;■ Introduction; as ho; waaf y known, throughout-New Zealand as i*v capable conductor) and .if there was a v man who -could make the! Palmerston, Horth ißand/ that man waf.'Mr; Frank-, .? lih. : . From'-ftow : on the bnad/mnst bo a , united ready to worW for the common good. A true bandsman, thought; not Of himself but of niS balhd/ and Mr; 3Oram said -he thought that Mr. Franklia:' could thq true ibandsinan spirit. The cozmhittee extended ft hearjy welcome to' tho. new conductor. Ho had;: -v mhny difficulties to face, btt should mit, ; bo'daunted-■: : - Mr. Oram-apologised fet-: the'absence : ; of Mt. : J..;A. :Nash, ' bthpra'; ; whojwertf interested in the band. ; ThftJiHwpir,' A. Gtehaffi; aftur appreciation /df; the.' inyiti- 1 • tion 'sent him to, be present,'oh behalf of, the.tbyyti* .extended ft warn; to Mr; Franklin ahd/fnwuly,'; and hoppd tlmt ffis sthy *would bo a'prosporous pne. 'i: There was no: doubt that Mr. Franklin 3 ’ t coming would' make itself; felt in musi- ■; cal circles In. Palmerston North. His , - qualifications were well'known; 3 but no ..-A matter bow great thesc i might be, he would aht' Tie. »M•^.*6• : withottt- the Royalty of ,the bahd .nicnihers. • Loyalty could first .be'; shown by regular htlendances at practices and; painstaking efforts. He urged the bands: tnph: ;to display the same . carp in ,their practices as they gaye to their business ; affairs, and so.mhkc the baud a credit, . to the town. There should bo an cntirO absence of that potty jealousy which „ ,:j tended to undermine efficiency. The ; < Borough; Council would give every , as-. - sistahee. . Already Ait had d eci ded ta ; A subsidise the band f s pound for pound up to £ 250. ’ Mr, Cowliish&w, senior member of tho \vband, extended a welcomO to Mr. Frank-. ; lift on behftlf of tbe .band:! -He promised ;.H : the new conductor, that members would rally around him. ! There were sufli-.;,• eient players iu the town to make ’a*;--first class ‘A’ Grade band, capab.le of winnibg any. contest,-and tho speaker \ Said he fellA;sure Mr.:PrahkHn would, not regret coming to Palmerston NortliThe chairinas then handed over to the , bandmaster his'batten and the key of the-Band Hall, amid-hearty applause. •Mr; Franklin, in briefly. 'retttrning . I thanks for the unique reception accord: fed him, said ho hoped he would be able to fill the position of bandmaster with; credit to the band'and town- - He had come to Palmerston North with the ih*• tention of remaining in the town and becoming a worthy citizen. (Applause.) _ ' He complimented the Mayor upon his,, advice to tho bandsmen —advice that ■niivht be well taken to, heart by ,all. Personally, ho would ask for harmony o’ mind as well as of music, and then' y-. all would go well. His.endeavour would ; . •» be .tb make the practices ihterestipg, V an d in rotiiip he wanted to get at ten > tibp,, and to observe discipline. .There was nothing to stop the Palmepiton North Band being made the best. Ha %, was not afraid of it being a little v ‘ down at. tho present time when there .. .y, was such" aq excellent committee behind' ;' 7 ' the'band, and such enthusiasm displayed.''- ..