BATTALION BAND

Southland Times, Issue 24460, 13 June 1941, Page 6

BATTALION BAND

SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL

SOCIAL

The activities of the Band of the Ist Battalion, Southland Regiment, the successes it had enjoyed and the difficulties that it had to face formed the subjects for addresses by various speakers at the band’s annual social which was held last night. There was a large gathering of members and supporters, representatives of other bands and visitors representing city organizations. Mr A. Cook, president, occupied the chair. Proposing a toast to the band, Mr D. Farney declared that the method of raising money practised at present was extremely humiliating for bandsmen. They had to go among the public with collection boxes, whereas they should have adequate provision made from the public purse. The band had been a wonderful institution in the city and had given valuable training to many young people. The senior band, which had 29 members, had turned out 63 times during the past year, and the boys’ band, which had 33 members, had turned out 22 times. In addition, there were about 12 boys, as young as nine and ten years old, in the learners’ class. Replying to the toast, the bandmaster (Lieutenant A. McMaster) thanked the members for their loyal support during the year. The senior band was composed of young men, of whom only nine were old enough to be eligible for military service, he said. It would be difficult to keep it up to strength during the war. It took not less than six or seven years to train a senior bandsman to full efficiency and it was not going to be easy to keep up the standard set in the past. Several other toasts were honoured and items were given by Messrs C. F. Gunn (songs), Fraser (violin solos), C. Paine (humorous items) and C. Martin (pianoforte solo). Mr Martin was the accompanist during the evening.