BAND ATTENDANCES

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 6

BAND ATTENDANCES

DISSATISFACTION AT STRATFORD. DISCUSSION BY THE COMMITTEE. The possibility that unless practices of the Stratford Citizens’ Band were better attended during the next few weeks the continued existence of the band in its present form might be jeopardised, arose last night at a meeting of the band committee, which instructed the secretary to write to all members of the band urging them to attend practices regularly. When the band was reconstructed a few months ago a term of three months’ trial was mentioned, and as that period had nearly expired the discussion became of importance.

Matters were brought to a head by the conductor, Mr. C. A. Turner. He said practices were not being fully attended. The committee had accepted an engagement for the band at the Stratford A. and P. Show, and the Legion of Frontiersmen was applying for the services of the band. Moreover, he had been approached by the president of the Stratford Racing Club. Fifteen or 16 players attended, every practice, but the other eight or nine did not attend. If there were 16 different members at every practice he would be satisfied; the trouble was that those who attended were tire same every night. The Legion of Frontiersmen advised details of its church parade on November 10, and asked if the band would be prepared to assist. Hie Pipe Band had also been asked to co-operate. It would not be possible to parade the band on November 10 unless the band members attended practices in greater numbers, Mr. Turner said. There were 15 or 16 players at practices, but they were not enough.

Mr. Rowell moved that each member of the band be written to and asked to attend regularly. “What is the use?” Mr. Sayers asked. “I have written to them, and written to them, and seen them personally. You will waste your paper and stamps. Some of the members of the committee should approach these men.” “I think the three months’ trial the Mayor gave us is about up,” the chairman said.

Mr. Jury: It is time we got down to deep work. We want to know what the members intend to do. This town has to have a band, and it is going to have a band. We are working for the citizens of the town, and we want to know if we are going on. The results to date were unsatisfactory, said the chairman. Some players were doing well, but there were still the drones. He thought the members of the committee were not doing all they could to raise finance. How to get the players to practise was the big point. Mr. Sayers considered Mr. Turner had 100 per cent, more players than the previous conductor had in the year before Mr. Turner took over. If he wrote to and interviewed the players who were not attending practices, perhaps results would be achieved. Mr. Turner said he would want three full practices before taking the band before the public. There were 24 players the night the queen carnival was launched, but there were not 24 players at practices. “It is not fair to the band or to the conductor,” the chairman commented. “Until we have’the attendances at practices v/e cannot parade with the Legion.” If the band did not give a good programme at the show it would not be likely to be engaged, at the races, said Mr. Watson.

It should be pointed out to the players that unless the committee could make a favourable report to the borough council at the end of the three months there might be no band at all, Mr. Rowell stated.

The decision to approach the bandsmen was reached on the motion of Mr. Rowell, and the application of the Legion was deferred in the meantime.

Those present were Messrs. A. E. Pollock (chairman), C. A. Turner (conductor), A. D. Jury, L. J. Rowell, D. Sisarich, R. G. Watson and A. E. Sayers (secretary).