MUNICIPAL BAND.

Waipa Post, Volume XIX, Issue 1103, 9 June 1921, Page 5

MUNICIPAL BAND.

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING. DISAPPOINTING ATTENDANCE. The attendance at the eleventh annual public meeting of the Te Awamutu Municipal Band on Tuesday evening was decidedly disappointing, and a very poor encouragement to a worthy institution. Apart from half a dozen bandsmen, three borough councillors were present, and there was no public representation at all. The Mayor (Mr L. G. Armstrong) presided, and there were also present: Crs S. Clark and W. Jeffery and Messrs A. Newsome, B. 0. Bartlett, G. Galloway, A. Bygrave, and A. G. Warburton. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs M. C. Lawson and C. G. Downes.

In opening the meeting the Mayor said he was very pleased to preside on such an occasion. He regrotted that the Band had lost its president by the removal of Mr Lawson from the district, as his influence throughout had been most helpful. The Band as an organisation required all the encouragement it could get, and. he referred to the difficulties which were inevitably experienced in a country town in maintaining a combination of players. In Te Awamutu the Band and its officers had done exceptional-ly wel'l, and it could with •confidence look to the 1 future. As conditions in the town improved—and they were improving—the Band and every other institution in it must prosper; ,

The balance-sheet, which was duly adopted, showed a total revenue for the year of £402 19s 2d, and a credit balance of £3l 4s 2d. The year had opened, with a credit of £27 17s 9d, and the receipts showed donations £7 6s, engagement fees £33 12s, entertainments and recitals £64 5s Id, 'Labour Day £B3 13s 7d| and axemen's carnival £lB6 4s 6d. On the expenditure side general administration cost £Bl 16s 2d, engagement expenses £ls 2s, and expenses connected with entertainments and recitals £43 18s 3d. Labour Day expenditure was £B4 6s 6d, and the axemen's carnival showed outgoings amounting to £146 12s Id. The balance carried forward in the new term was £3l 4s 2d. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr L. G. Armstrong; president, Mr C. G. Downes; vice-presid-ents, Col. J. G. Wynyard, Messrs M. 0, Lawson, S. Clark, W. Jeffery, H. Y. •Collins, J. Middlebrook, S. W. McMillan, A. E. Patterson, D., Bockett, A. Young, J. B. Teasdale, and C. Bygrave; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. G. Warburton; auditor, Mr H. A. Burchell; bandmaster, Mr A. Newsome; deputy bandmaster, Mr J. Goodchild; sergeant, Mr A. C. Coleman; librarian, Mr R. North; custodian, Mr B. 0. Bartlett; committee, Messrs W. Jeffery and S. Clark (representing the Borough Council), S. W. McMillan, A. E, Patterson, and N. E. Lee (representing the public), and A. Newsome, J. Goodchild, A. C. Coleman, R. North, and B. 0. Bartlett (representing the Band). A suggestion was made that the Band should associate itself, whilst maintaining its civilian status, with the territorials and cadets in the Te Awamutu area. Proposals in this connection were generally discussed, and it was left to the secretary to communicate the suggestions to the officer commanding the district. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring president (Mr M.C. Lawson), the bandmaster (Mr A. Newsome), the auditor (Mr H. A. Burchell), and all officers. In proposing a vote of thanks t the Band for its many public services Mr Clark said few people realised the difficulty experienced in maintaining a combination of players and in generally conducting the 'Band. That the organisation had been kept intact during the last few years was most creditable, and the Band deserved every credit. Mr! Jeffery supported these remarks, and said the bandsmen did not perhaps realise the value of their organisation in the town. He referred to the stimulating influence of music and the service of the Band at all public functions. The Mayor said the opportunity did not often present itself for an' expression of appreciation. He gave an assurance that the Council and the public valued most highly the Band's services. 'He predicted that if the Band did not exist for twelve months there would be a nowise uncertain clamour for its revival The balancesheet presented that night showed how hard the Band had worked to maintain itself and improve its equipment—a fact which was of great assistance to the local body. Perhaps it was a simple method of finance to make a call on the public funds, but it had to be remembered that the Council had limited revenues, and every penny voted by way of subsidy would mean less for expenditure on improving roads and footpaths'. Speaking personally, he said he appreciated the Band because of its attitude of self-belp and its readiness to always assist in public affairs. The Band deserved every encouragement, and was well worthy of the epople's best support.