BATTALION BAND'S CONCERT.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10449, 22 September 1902, Page 3

BATTALION BAND'S CONCERT.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —I notice that the Battalion Bund >s holding a concert, next Thursday to raise, 'funds, whichi it is generally agreed, I think, they richly deserve-. 1 also notice that one of the local Schools has also a concert advertised for the same night. I don't know what.you think about this, but in my opinion it savours of rank selffishneßU. Here on the Thames are two 1 bands that, without exaggeration, provide more charitable! funds than any two others in the colony. Always ready and willing to respond thus to the cry of the poor and distressed, tihe widow and thle orphan, it doss seem hard that the very night of all others in the year, either one of them chaoses to run a show for their own benefit, a counter attraction, must, be set up to discount their tnk'ngs. The publio generally are quite tardy enough about showing practical appreciation of tha bands withlout it being necessary to rum opposition to them. It would be a. graceful act indeed for this school show to be adjourned for a week, so as to til'.ow the bund the fullest benefit obtainable. I would have never tnken the trouble to raise this publio objection, had I not heard that overtures had beeni already made to the master of the school to give way to the band. But without avail —in fact he pooh-poolied the very idea. It i& not wise for teachers to thus set themselves, •up iir defiance of public opinion. It, is courting disaster. Besides, wei want our ' children taught that the cause of charity and its promoters should ever be set, before mere personal enjoyment andl the aggrandising of a, n-'Te .headmaster. I notice latterly there has been a slight, inclination on tl:e part of the tvachers and' clergy of this town to unduly as?e.rti themselves, chiefly in the direction of local politics. It is a, bad line and I trust the public will just nip this interference in thiei bud, and I hope, the committee of the school will exert- the little authority they are unfortunately clothed w'th and insist that their school shall not run, opposition to so worthy a cause as that oni Thursday evening next.—l am, etc. COUSIN JACK. Thames, September 22nd.