Very Unsatisfactory; Municipal Band; Severe Criticism

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1938, Page 3

Very Unsatisfactory; Municipal Band; Severe Criticism

•• 1/1 ANY EXPLANATIONS MAY BE ADVANCED TO CONDONE THE Jl PAUCITY OF ATTENDANCE AT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCES. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE BAND HAS NOT JUSTIFIED PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND IS PRACTICALLY DEFUNCT AS FAR AS THE TOWN IS CONCERNED, SHOW WEEK WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RETRIEVE SOME LEEWAY, BUT THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS ALLOWED TO LAPSE.”

With these remarks. Mr ,T. C. Reynold?, immediate part-president ol: the Whangarei Municipal Band, summed up his report lo the annual meeting of the band last night.

Financial Position. "I cannot say that the band has improved its financial position to any great extent during the year,” said Mr Reynolds. “The overdraft is still fairly high and the expenditure has amounted to quite a considerable sum. You will notice that the earnings of the band during the year have been very small, and, had it not been for the assistance of the borough council subsidy, it would appear that the band might have had to either go into recess, or seek the assistance of an honorary conductor. “During the year, I have had requests from the Mayor, and also our banker, on behalf of the guarantors, to reduce their liability. I am pleased to state that your committee, in acceding to the request passed a resolution confirming the reducing of the overdraft ‘limit’ from £175 to £l5O. This was the best we could do under the circumstances; it now remains for everyone to put his shoulder to the wheel and not only aim at reducing the ‘limit - of the overdraft, but to wipe it out altogether. Poor Attendances. “The number of practices recorded in the attendance book during the year was 98. Your conductor, Mr Dobson, attended 100 per cent, but I am sorry to state that the bandsmen have .averaged only 41.6 per cent. This is very discouraging, not only to the conductor, but to the committee and citizens of Whangarei. Your committee has discussed the position on several occasions and has come to j the conclusion that some drastic l change will be necessary this coming 1 year if the hand is to receive the j same consideration and support it has j enjoyed in the past. j

stand the Parents' Association ;s working hard to provided funds for the boys' band. Before passing on, 1 would like to thank the Parents’ Association on behalf of the retiring committee for their very kind and worthy efforts. New System Suggested. ■•During the year I called a meeting of members and ex-members. This was for the purpose of meeting you all at a 'round-table conference,’ and to clear up misunderstandings (if any) between the committee, conductor and members. The function appeared to be quite successful as far as it went, but I am inclined to think that there are still some members and ex-members who are not satisfied with the conductor or the administration. If that is so, and it certainly looks like il by the attendance book, I would suggest that you call a special meeting .and invite every bandsman and ex-bandsman to see if you can find a solution amongst yourselves.

"Owing to the apparent inactivity oi the band, and also to try another system that might place the conductor and the band on a sounder basis, your committe edecided to fix the conductor's salary for both bands inclusive, at £IOO per annum, .and whatever revenue was derived from either bands to be paid into the funds. Mr Dobson kindly consented to continue collecting the boys’ band subscriptions, and to hand them to the secre-; tary. This arrangement was only for a period of six months, when the appointment will .again be reviewed, and it will depend a great deal on the efforts you make, whether you will be able to retain the services of the conductor unless at a much reduced salary.

'‘On several occasions I appealed to the conductor to muster the band and give just a short performance; but each time lie .assured me it was impossible. Now I say that this state of affairs should not be. The ratepayers of the town are entitled to some consideration, especially seeing that the borough council has been considerate enough to provide to subsidise your efforts. Only 10 Active Members. “The position of the band on June 30 is that, out of a total membership of 31, only 10 have retained their active membership, and are legally eligible to vote at this meeting. I do not say we should rigidly enforce this rule, but that is the position. "The boys' band working account shows a deficit of £9 Os 9d. Probably during the coming year, the conductor and committee may devise ways and means to keep them financial. They have turned ouf on several occasions, and have given very creditable performances. I under-

"You have been particularly unfortunate this year in losing the services of Mr Cunningham as secretary and also Mr Barnes as acting secretary. Both these gentlemen have done good service to the band, and for their work and assistance I tender them my sincere thanks. Mr Patterson has kindly stepped into the breach and is carrying on until your new appointee takes office: to him also we extend our thanks.

“Your committee has always done its job conscientiously, and in the best interests of the band. To them also I tender my sincere thanks for assistance and loyal co-operation. In conclusion. I sincerely hope the new president and committee, and also the band, will have a more successful and prosperous year than the past one.’’ Member Commends Bam!. When the report was before the meeting for discussion, Mr J. W. Dobson said lie was not altogether in approval with what the president had said. He referred to the difficulty experienced by all such organisations in Ihe last few years. In particular he mentioned the Choral Society, which, he said, had had a larger membership but had faded away, while the baud had kept going. “I think the baud should be commended for still keeping going, when one considers how other organisations have been forced to close down," he said. To this Mr D. L. Smedley, one of the borough council representatives on the band committee, replied that the choral society had not been favoured with a subsidy from the borough council, as had the band. He was in sympathy with what Mr Dobson had raid, maintaining that there was an evident lack of keenness on the part of band members. Only Four Appearances. Mr F. C. H. Cowan, another borough council representative, said that it bad been pointed out to him in the street that there had been only four public appearances of the band in the past year, and that each appearance had cost the citizens of Whangarei r.:i7 10'-. "I have a reeling." he said, "that all is not well in the band itself." Conductor’s Remarks. The band conductor, Mr A. Dobson, remarked that the president’s report was an accurate one. being a true statement of fact. The band at present, he said, was not fit to play in the streets. If all players in the town were to come forward. Wh.angarei would have a very good band, he said, it was impossible, however, to conduct a good band when so few turned up for practice.

In reply to a s ogees lion by Mr H. Flewellyn, Mr Dobson raid that; a would be irnporsiblo to send away a good band from Wlmn.earoi under present era id i lion;-. The report war. adopted with lit tie lurthnr discussion.