Our Brass Bands

Southland Times, Issue 14785, 31 October 1900, Page 3

Our Brass Bands

— — +. — __ — TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — It wasnotmy intention to troubleyou re our local band differences, but I cannot allow the letter signed " One who knows " in your Saturday's issue to go unchallenged. The writer, who I am sorry to say, admits he is an ex-member of the City Band, shows very bad taste in attacking his late comrades as he has done, and in his attempt to make us appear as small as possible. As regards his remarks that "a man maybe considered a first-class player in the City but when he joins the Garrison he finds he has to take a back seat " the general public I think will agree with me tbat this is far from correct, as we have only to point to Glennie, who won the championship of New Zealand longbefce he left the City to take up the leadership of the Garrison. Turner, our late solo euphonium, who has " been out of the City Baud for some five or six months " is dividing the solo playing with that veteran A. Ferguson, thus showing that he (Turner) must be above the average.' The other men trained in the City played second parts only, so that the reference made could not apply to them. I might mention that the Garrison were approached some three or four weeks ago to amicably agree upon some arrangement to put a stop to members leaving one band and joining the other as they pleased. So far no reply has been received. It may be interesting to the public to learn that there are no less than ten ex-City players in the ranks of the Garrison. To foster a spirit of good feeling, and in the interest of fair play, is the wish of A Member of the City since its Inception. 30th Oct.