Two Thousand Pounds for Band

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6101, 12 September 1947, Page 4

Two Thousand Pounds for Band

NEW INSTRUMENTS AND UNIFORMS ; CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED At a public meeting held in the Town Hall supper room om'" Tuesday evening last it was umrfnmously decided to launch a campaign to obtain an objective o£/£2llß to provide new sets of instruments and uniforms for the Camb ddg/ Band. As proposed the campaigi i urould commence on October 15 aud be approximately for one month. In the unavoidable absence of the Band President, Mr Walter Moore, the deputy-mayor, Mr M. Wells, presided over an attendance of twenty people. Mr Wells in stating the purpose of the meeting, apologised for the absence of the Mayor, but stated that Mr Moore and the Council would be sympathetic to the appeal.

The Chairman of the Band Committee, Mr C. Kelly, said he was

rather disappointed with the attendance. The matter before the meeting had been under consideration for a considerable time, and it had been delayed on account of the war. It Was now felt that steps. should be taken to suitably equip, the band, and the public meeting had been called so that the people - of the district could voice their views on the matter. Some of the band’s present instruments were practically out of playing condition. The committee was contemplating sending 12 instruments to Auckland immediately •for repairs so that the band could carry on. Mr Kelly said the committee had further delayed the appeal on account of the recent 0. & G. campaign. He reminded the meeting that it was not an easy task to hold a band together and he paid a compliment to the old stalwarts, some of whom had been active members up to 20 years. Mr T. Cummings, the council representative on the Band Committee, told the meeting that the existing set of instruments, or what was left of them, was bought 21 years ago at the cost of £7OO. The present cost—and Mr Cummings quoted from a recent price list—for a set of A-grade (contest) at £2,168. Concerning the existing set it would be necessary to keep some of the best as practice instruments for the learners’ class The balance would be worth, say, £2OO. They would require to raise £1968 for instruments.

The uniforms had been purchased 14 years ago and at the present time the band was short of a number. Ten uniforms could be purchased from the Military Board and with repairs to the old, if braiding, etc. could be obtained, would cost £IOO. They could purchase a complete, set of military uniforms for £l5O. So the total required for both a complete set of instruments and uniforms would be £2,118. The meeting should decide#, on an objective of £2,000. Mr Cummings went on, to refer to the loyalty of the band members, especially the farming players. He said it was a compliment to the band and to Cambridge that the South Auckland Band’s Association had offered the next Easter contest to Cambridge. They should have the uniforms, at least, so that the Cambridge band could take its place. At this stage it was carried that steps be taken to raise the sum of. £2,118 for sets of new instruments and uniforms. It was also decided that the campaign commence on October 15 and that the period be approximately, one month. . ;

The following are members of the provisional committee: Messrs W. Moore, M. Wells, T. Cummings, A. K. Fletcher, T. Reilly, A. L. Back, J. Forrest and V. G. Boulton, with Mr M. Wells as convener. It was furth6r decided that the provisional committee meet on Monday evening next when steps will be taken to organise a general cammittee fully representative of the borough and districts.