NELSON BANDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 7

NELSON BANDS

[To the Editor] noticed in a recent issue of ! rh e Mad” a report from the Nelson * y. Council regarding the grants made to the local brass bands. The 12th Regimental was granted a sum, and on requesting the same treatment, the Nelson City Band were requested to forward to the council a record of their concerts for the last year. While that lequest is quite in order, I cannot help feeling that the City Band should not be judged alltogether by their public performances. There is a war on and I the City Band, in common with the 12th -Regiment, or Garrison, as it is sometimes called, have lost members through enlistments for active service; perhaps more vital ones than the Band could at the moment replace. Then there is the matter of the sinking ship, members leave for pastures that are more promising, and I am certainly correct in saying that for many years the City Silver Band has been instrumental in providing players for the 12th Regiment Band who received their first training in the City Silver Band. At presen* it would be rather interesting for the City Council to first request a list of present players from the 12th j Regiment or Garrison Band who have received their training in the City Sil- [ ver Band, before finally passing judg- | ment on the City Band. In conclusion I wish to draw attention to the financial side of the respective bands in question. The Garrison have a band room mainly free, partly 1 through the efforts of their members, portly through the Defence Department fo: services rendered, constituting free | rent, light and upkeep. Uniforms are i supplied by the Defence to mem- i bers free. Could not the City Council ! provide a practice room for the City j Band, where their instruments and ac- i cessories incidental to a band could be I stored and younger members trained ! for future bandsmen? Competition isj the definite way in which the standard of enterprise is raised. If the people give both sides a fair break, improvement will be the result. The City Silver Bai .1 has been in existence for probably 30 years or more and has done yeoman service in the past. During the last war they were the National Reserve Band. Their record and service warrants careful consideration by the council.—l am. etc.. E. LINTON, Nelson. 2nd December.