MOUNTED RIFLES BAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15750, 27 October 1914, Page 4

MOUNTED RIFLES BAND.

Sir,— you kindly permit me space j to state some" facts relative to the present j position of the 3rd. Auckland, Mounted j Rifles Military Band. General (iodley requested Colonel Mackesy to use every entieavour to tako a band'with the mounted : men. Colonel Macke.sy interviewed the \ bandmaster of the Regimental Rand an to I whether he could go. The bandmaster , agreed to do so, also 15 single men of the band. To plav necessary instruments it was found that three married men must also go. The three married men agreed to go if their families were provided for. Tho Patriotic Committee undertook to pay £1 a week to each of the three families for ! one year, and they went, taking instru- i mentis and music to the value of about J £230. The band was assured that it would not be the loser if it allowed its property to go forward with the expeditionary force. The commandant of the force evidently relied on the Patriotic Committee or the ' general public to see that such patriotic action, as the band had shown, in sending 18 men with their instruments and music to the front, would ensure that the instruments thus taken would be replaced. The matter has been before both the gentle- I men's and ladies' section of the Patriotic) League, and neither is prepared to take) any action. The position of the band is | therefore that they are without instru- I ments and music. ' They have elected a J new bandmaster, and have players willing : to join the band, but are unable to carrr i • on because they have no instruments. 1 ! feel confident that when the facts ate • known there will he no difficulty about I this matter. The matter is somewhat I • urgent, because the band has to fulfil a yearly engagement in November next. 1 j am writ because I hare been asked t, move in the matter, and r.n the bands account I would ask for as much assurance in the war of publicitv as yon can B'"' ~ , W. Tram Smith. Rrookland.i, Alfred Street, City.