Air Force Band Leaves For Auckland

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1942, Page 4

Air Force Band Leaves For Auckland

Weather conditions prevented the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band from playing in the streets of Whangarei today prior to its departure by midday train for Auckland.

As is customary with the band, however, the morning was not wholly wasted, and in the Town Hall players assembled for a short practice. The sounds of band music brought in people from the street, and members of the women's patriotic activities sub-committee showed initiative in passing round the collection box to secure further contributions to the patriotic funds. Whangarei Hospitality Thanks to members of the committee was tendered by the conductor (FlightLieutenant H. Gladstone Hill). In arranging refreshments for the band, the women had made them more at home than in any place they had yet visited. Cheers for the committee, for the Mayor (Mr. W. Jones) and "for the weather he had turned on” were given by the band. Tribute to the Whangarei Patriotic Committee for the excellent organisation for the band’s visit was paid by the Relations Officer to the Air Force (FlyingCffieer Davy) in conversation with a representative of the "Northern Advocate.” In many places visited by the band there had been a minimum of organisation and Air Force personnel had had to carry out the necessary organisation themselves. In Whangarei, however, there had not been a single item overlooked and all arrangements had been made for the comfort and welfare of the band, freeing the accomoanying officers for work in connection with recruiting of boys for the Air Training Corps.