CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18588, 24 December 1934, Page 10

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, —At Christmas we look forward to the bands rendering carols, but 1 was surprised' to learn the Gisborne Military Band purposed talcing part. As a band they, have done very little in the way of rendering programmes for the public during the last 12 months, and when one looks back to. see the good w.ork of the Salvation Army Band and. the Regimental (City Band) during the year, surely it must be very unfair of the above mentioned band to step in and pjck up the plums. They shppld be content with theip 12 lppnlhs collections in connection with the socalled, competition for a motor car, more especially as the cur has not been claimed. Thanking you for your valuable space.—Yours, etc.,

MUSIC LOVER

Coptmenting on the issues raised in the above letter, a member of the Military Band executive stated that the band had a record of public welfare work of which any organisation might be proud, at least 85 per cent, of its earnings having gone to charitable purposes during the past 18 months. With Regard to the motor car competition, the position was that the competition had been wound up, and the winner indicated, the name and number of the ticket-holder having been advertised in the Herald and elsewhere. So far from the band having both cash and car, too, the fact was that the committee would lose substantially over the competition, the completion of which had been delayed by circumstances oiltside the control of the bandsmen and their officers, The executive member stated that the Military Band’s case could well be left to the general public, who could be relied on to see fair play.