The Municipal Band

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 6

The Municipal Band

JL A GOOD brass band can be a great public asset, to any town, but from the report presented by the past president, Mr J. C. Reynolds, at the annual meeting of the band on Tuesday night, it would appear that unless a. new spirit is infused into the local band there is little immediate prospect of its taking its proper place in the life of the community. At the outset, Mr. Reynolds is to be commended for setting out the facts frankly. There is no point in trying to gloss over a discouraging situation, and it is only by facing the position fairly and squarely that any improvement may eventually be achieved. The position is certainly far from satisfactory. Only 10 of the 31 members of the band were, at the date of the annual meeting, qualified members in terms of the constitution, and the average attendance of bandsmen at practice was only 31.6 per cent of the possible total attendances. Ordinarily, where men engage in such work as a hobby, the energy and enthuisiasm with which they pursue it are their own private affair. But in the case of the 'Whangarei Municipal Band, assistance from the public has been claimed in the past, on the very sound grounds that a band, functioning efficiently, would be a valuable asset to the community. The borough council’s response .h'as been to grant a liberal subsidy. It paid £l5O last year, which means that each of the four public appearances of the band, as Cr. Cowan pointed out, cost the council £37 10s, This was distinctly disappointing to borough council and conductor alike. The encouragement of music in Whangarei undoubtedly is a worthwhile object to serve. But the borough council cannot afford to waste money. If the bandsmen want the subsidy to continue they should weed, out the unenthusiastic and start anew. There is no reason why, as it has done in the past. Whangarei should not have an excellent band. But that kind cannot be accomplished without keenness and enthusiasm.