BAND FRICTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 7

BAND FRICTION.

5 (To the Editor). Sir,—On reading through your report on band matters |at-.the council meeting last Monday, I think it is only fair that the statements , made, by the deputation from the Citizens’ Baud should be strongly refuted, and at the same time enlighten the New Plymouth people as to what has-transpired at these meetings when, theprogrammes for municipal recitals, hay-©., been ananged. First of all, I might State I was responsible for getting the bands together; with the council band '• committee s permission, to draw up concert programmes two years ago. The first meeting was held in Mr. Maddock’s residence (then secretary of Citizens’ Band) when Messrs. Higarty, Coleman, Maddock and R. L. Lowe represented the Citizens’ Band,’ Williamson amt Cruden the Pipe Band, and Morris and myself the Regimental Band. Nothing occurred at this meeting in the nature of a ‘free fight,, but when proceedings terminated Mi. Maddock- kindly entertained the delegates with light refreshments. . The following season the ■ meeting was held, in the Citizens’ bandroom, when Messrs. Reid and Kirkland (Pipe Band), p L Lowe (Citizens’ Band) and Morris and myself (Regimental Band) attended. Any friction that has occurred happened at this meeting, -when Mr.: Lowe refused to recognise the rights of the Pipe Band, to participate in the schedule. Further he strongly objected to the Pipe Band being subsidised. The meeting, o course, was not convened to di: cuss the question of subsidies, and as our delegates took strong exdeption to this matter being voiced, we naturally took the side of the Pipe Band, which evidently invoked the displeasure of the Citizens’ Band. Perhaps this is a matter that Mr. Sykes (who, by the wa y> has never attended any of- the meetings) refers to in his absurd statement, the next meeting was again held in the Citizens’ bandroom, when Messrs. Reid (Pipe Band), Howell (secretary of the Citizens’ Band), Morris and myself (Regimental Band) were present and the schedule was drawn up quite amicably. With reefrence to the letter, which Mr. Newall received from me, he is obviously labouring under a delusion in statin"- that the Regimental Band requested” a meeting to draw up a schedule. The position is the writer received a verbal request from the council band committee to convene a meeting to draw up programmes »3 in'previous years, and for anyone to state otherwise is untrue. I trust the foregoing will assirt to clear the matter in the minds of vour readers. —I am, etc., F. S. NICHOLSON. Hou. Secretary, Regimental Band.