SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Southland Times, Issue 18936, 24 September 1920, Page 2

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

To the Editor. Sir,—l see by the report of ’ last night’s Council meeting that our canny Scot, Councillor Miller, is again heckling over the Sunday night band concerts, on account of those responsible for these concerts endeavouring to educate the public to be a little more generous in their contributions towards a good evening’s entertainment. Councillor Miller lays the blame on the band, but in conversation with some of its members I learn that the concert was run in conjunction with the Lyric Quartette, who had the theatre pencilled, and in face of this, the Council let the theatre to the band. The quartette met the position by joining with the band in giving the concert and it was they (the Lyric Quartette) who suggested to ask that patrons be expected to give not less than a shilling, remarking that this is always done in the northern towns. I think after the concert that was given for the Starving Children when out of 917 coins, 574 were threepenny bits, it was wise to make some such suggestion to the public. These concerts are well worth a shilling, and if there are people like Mr Miller who think otherwise then they should stop away. I notice Mr Miller had nothing to say about last Sunday’s concert given by a professional company, who asked the same thing, but I suppose that is a horse of another colour. “Fish of one and flesh of another.” It is a pity we had not 12 councillors like Mr Miller, the town wouldn’t be bothered with concerts or anything musical, but could live on “parritch and buttermilk.”—l am, etc., “CITIZEN.” 22/9/20.