THE MUNICIPAL BAND

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4046, 11 May 1938, Page 7

THE MUNICIPAL BAND

QUESTION OF CONTROL, REGRETS AT MR CLOSE’S RESIGNATION. Municipal Band matters were the subject or some deliberation at the final meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening. Cr H. C. Rainey, as chairman of the Band Committee, said Mr Close had been compelled to resign his position as conductor of the Municipal Band, and the Council should consider the situation. Personally, he felt that a very great loss had occurred. It had been published that Mr Close had resigned owing to family illhealth and pressure of his duties as borough foreman. That was, in some respects, correct. He was confident that had a vote been taken of the bandsmen as to whether or not Mr Close should retain office, the vote would have been adverse. The position now was, he considered, very serious. Mr Close had held the Band together for six years, but it was obvious now that something was wrong. Who was to run the Band? At present the Council had practically no control. The Band executive was a committee ot seven, with only two Council appointees. To a question, Cr Rainey said the finances were in a fairly good position, for the Band had a credit balance of £1 17s 9d, but owed £4l 13s 4d. MR CLOSE AS CUSTODIAN. Cr Montefiore remarked that it was rather late in the day to consider Band affairs, for the Council was practically out of office. He proposed that Mr Close be given custody of the instruments and other property of the Band, so that the incoming Council could consider the position. The present Council had every confidence in Mr Close. By adopting the motion, the Council would have the security it was entitled to. The trouble could not be threshed out that evening. Mr Close was an officer of the Council, and should be appointed custodian. Cr Brown, a former president ot the Band, seconded. The Mayor said he thought two councillors appointed by him were on the Band’s Finance Committee. He recalled earlier incidents, and said the intention was that all payments for the Band should be sanctioned by the Council’s two representatives. Periodically trouble in the Band had arisen over the finances. He added that it was a pity Mr Bockett had not continued as treasurer. Cr Rainey said there was no trouble about the finances. No liabilities could be incurred without his approval. Cr Brown commented that the finances of the Band needed watching very closely. The men were fine fellows, but they needed a guiding hand. Mr Close had done remarkably good work. Some bandsmen did not appear to realise that the instruments and other property were vested in the Borough Council. He would not like to see action deferred. That would not be in the best interests of the Band. Mr Close should act as custodian, at least for the time being, for the Council had every confidence in him. To Cr North, Cr Rainey said everything procured by the Band had been paid for. Cr Gifford inquired who was to be given authority to purchase? Cr Rainey said that was just why he asked the Council to decide the matter of control. Cr Montefiore: They cannot buy anything without the treasurer’s consent. CONTROL OF FINANCES. Cr Rainey said he was treasurer of the Band, and he would not certify any payment until the matter was fixed up. Cr Montefiore said that when the new Council was elected, the Mayor might, in his wisdom, appoint a new Band Committee and a treasurer. It would not be fair to ask Cr Rainey to continue in that office, seeing he would not be directly responsible to the Council. Perhaps the town clerk should be asked to resume the treasurership, which job he had done so admirably in the past. As Cr Rainey was leaving the Borough Council he would also leave the Band. Cr Jourdain pointed out that Cr Rainey had not been appointed by the Mayor or Borough Council, but had been elected by the Band as president and treasurer. Cr Montefiore maintained that while a Councillor or two were on the Band executive, especially for finance, everybody would know the facts. He thought few councillors realised the Band was in debt over £4O at date. Cr Rainey: They’re not in debt £4O. It is just a current account. The Council has had regular balance sheets. If things had gone on smoothly as regards the conductorship the £4O would have been quickly wiped out. Cr Montefiore wanted the Band finances placed on a better footing. The new Council should deal with that quickly. Meantime Mr Close should be appointed custodian to safeguard the municipal security, of which the Council ,were trustees. Chairmanship of the Band was a thankless and a difficult job. The Mayor said his idea was that there should be a Band Finance Committee, with Council appointees having the majority. Tiie Council should appoint the Band treasurer. He mentioned that the Band might some day have an irresponsible majority, and would get hopelessly into debt. To the Mayor, Cr Rainey said Band cheques were signed by Mr Close and himself. The Mayor: 1 think that arrangement had better continue. Cr Rainey said he would gladly hand over the job of treasurer if any other Councillor would take it. The Council should really have more control over the Band, and he added that the Band had worked well and harmoniously up to quite lately, BAND COMMITTEE. Cr Gifford suggested a Band Committee of six—three from each, one of the Council appointees to be chairman. Mr Spinley said the Council was not concerned with the internal affairs of the Band, only finance. He added that all bands seemed to have similar troubles at times. Cr Wallace commented that the Council did not know the Band’s real needs. The Mayor: Well, you should know.

You were appointed a Council representative. The Council should have a majority, like on the Library Commit tee and the Fire Board. He thought the best executive would be two members from the Council, two from the Band, and that the chairman should be one of the former. Cr Montefioie’s motion to appoint Mr Close as custodian was carried, and it was mentioned that nobody had authority to incur liability on behalf of Hie Band. Cr Gifford asked if the Council had any control over moneys raised, say, by means of competitions conducted by individual bandsmen. The proceeds could be, expended on Band requirements without the Finance Committee having anything to do with it. The subject was not further discussed, but to a question Mr Close said the Band had considered the matter of “getting a good conductor, who would be paid.” He regarded that as “the best kick in the pants” he had had for a long time—-and Councillors smiled.