CORRESPONDENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19953, 10 November 1934, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

THE PIPE BAND CONTEST To the Editor of “ The Tlmaru Herald *’ Sir, —Mr J. D. Parkin and "Good Music” strike a strident note. Surely it cannot be “dog-in-the-mangerish” for bands, whether pipe or brass, to have a week of music! As my name shows, I am not a Scotchman, but I say let the lovers of the pipes meet in Timaru on the day they have chosen, if they would like to. To my mind it shows bad taste for one section to try to forbid another in joining in a jolly good week of musical festivity, for competitions without the goodwill of the public would be failures. Let all musicians come to Timaru, whether they bring accordions, mouth organs, or any other musical instruments, and let everyone be happy together. Just one word to ‘‘Good Music.” It would be wise for him to read the history of the Indian Mutiny before he again calls pipe music “heathenish.” —I am, etc., W. J. PARSONS. Timaru, November 9. To the Editor of ” The Timaru Herald ” j Sir, —I noticed by to-day’s issue of ! your paper that two citizens of this 1 town are anxious to prevent a pipe j bands’ contest being held here. Per- | sonally I was pleased to hear that the | pipes were to be present, and I cannot I understand Mr Parkin’s attitude nor ! "Good Music’s” animosity. As for j transgressing on the brass bands’ week. I this is pure “bunk,” for the pipe band ! contest will be for Saturday the 16th I only, and by Monday the 18th people will be back to their various jobs, and j looking forward to the brass bands’ | quickstep on the following Saturday. 1 I would like to commend the local Pipe I Band on their foresight and initiative 1 in organising this contest, and sincerely hope that it will prove a success. —I am, etc., J. McDOUGALL. Timaru, November 9. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir. —Allow me space in your valuable columns to reply to the letters of J. D. Parkin and “Good Music.” J. D. Parkin expresses the hope that citizens will provide neither funds nor accommodation for the pipers at the forthi coming contest. If all citizens were as Mr Parkin thinks they are, his request might be granted, but as we are a wise-thinking community, that request is regarded by the majority as being very childish and ignorant. As to "Good Music’s” outburst, I am sure he is not sincere with his expression of “heathenish noises made by a crowd of so-called pipers,” but it was just a thoughtful action on his part that prompted him to write on such lines, and try and put a smile on the faces of those few people who have been so upset over the decision to stage a pipe band contest. Why did not the Brass Bands’ Association cooperate with the Pipe Bands’ Association in the event of a contest? Because a certain amount of Jealousy is felt cf the pipe band section, and now the pipe bands are strong enough to stage a contest on their own section, the few with ideas like Mr Parkin and “Good Music” are going to explode with insults of an ignorant nature. —I am, R. G. A. MUNRO. Pareora, November 9. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir, —I was rather surprised at the tone of J. D. Parkin’s letter in your issue of to-day. It is an insult to the Mayor, as well as the citizens of Timaru, to say that the public meeting was a farce and a camouflage. As to advising the residents to provide neither funds nor accommodation to the pipers. I think this is going a bit too far. J. D. Parkin seems to be out to stir up all the trouble he can, and I would suggest if he finds Timaru so muddling in anything musical, that he purchase a single ticket to the Old Country, Where he might find something more to his liking in the way of music. I wonder? —I am etc., DISGUSTED. Timaru, November 9. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir,—lt was amusing indeed to read the hysterical outbursts of your two correspondents in the matter of the forthcoming Pipe Band Contest. Probably neither Mr Parkin nor "Good Music ’ are aware that whatever form of amusement a person indulges in on a Saturday afternoon has little —if any bearing on what he will do on the following Saturday. I can well imagine the patronisers of the Pipe Band Con*test attending the Brass Bands Quickstep on February 23, though it is doubtful if they will enjoy the latter to the same extent. Fortunately everybody’s musical taste is not in accord

with that of “Good Music,” and a few lively tunes on the pipes, prior to a week’s trombone and trumpet, will be a very welcome innovation indeed. Trusting that I am not alone in mj contentions. —I am, etc., MAC. Timaru, November 9. THE VIADUCT SHELTER To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir, —Considerable controversy is arising about the proposal of the Borough Council to waste money by removing the structure recently erected as a shelter at the Viaduct. I have visited the locality in order to see for myself just what his Worship the Mayor, was referring to some time ago when he used the term “cowshed. I consider that his Worship's remark was totally uncalled for, and in very bad taste, especially as he, along with the councillors, authorised the erection of the building in the first place, and in my opinion, they should have then made themselves acquainted with just what they were lending themselves to. Further, from the financial point of view, it is passing strange to me that the Council has money now to waste seeing that when we residents in a street in another part of the borough, petitioned some time ago for an asphalt footpath covering just the length of two blocks, we were informed in the Town Clerk’s very polite language, that “no money was available at present, all funds having been ‘earmarked’ up to the end of the financial year.” Truly, sir, the proposal savours of partisanship! Why? I am, etc., JUST A RATEPAYER. Timaru, November 9.