UNSUCCESSFUL BAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23113, 11 August 1938, Page 16

UNSUCCESSFUL BAND

W HANGAR EI MUNICIPAL FEW PUBLIC APPEARANCES COST TO THE BOROUGH [BV TKLEGHAril —OWN CORRESPONDENT] "WHANGAREI, Wednesday " Tho band lias not justified public support and is practically defunct as far as the town is concerned," said Mr. J. C. Reynolds, immediate past president, at tlie annual meeting of the Whangarei Municipal Band. "The band has not improved its financial position. Ihe overdraft is still high and expenditure has amounted to quite a considerable sum. Tho earnings of the band have been very small and had it not been for the financial assistance of the borough council it would-appear that the band might have bad to go into recess. The attendance of bandsmen at practices lias been very discouraging. Out of a total membership of 31 only 10 have retained active membership." Mr. F. C. H. Cowan, a borough council representative on the band committee, said he had been given to understand that the band had made only four public appearances during the year and so each appearance cost tho citizens of Whangnrei £37 10s. "1 have a feeling that all is not well with the band," concluded Mr. Cowan. \ " The band was not fit to play in the streets," said' Mr. A. Dobson, the conductor. "it is not possible to conduct a good band when so few turned up to practice."