AN OPEN LETTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19648, 6 September 1926, Page 6

AN OPEN LETTER

To Mr Jas. A. Watson, e’ond'i or of the Wanganui Garrison Band.--Dear Sir,—lt is with a feeling o;' deep grot that wc noted your tactless ).r! unwarranted letter which appear* 1 .. the Wanganui “Chronicle’’ of the dr I inst., and wc are ialistied that every citizen who loves fair and bonny yi will agree with us that, as tac wii; .■ of the said letter, you are ect acting .• the best interests of ’!:e . . •i.’.iu ii’■. the bands, and i hut vuu app have a very crude ptiou terra fair play as uni- r.-.- t-d - • ., 4 proved by the public of Wanguau . Our citizens have for years justly proud of their band.-, which hav rendered valuabic services, nnd bruu.xh - . lustre and a goo . reputation io ou. city, and we believe that our citiz n* are joalou- that such reputation should be upheld to the highest degree. While a healthy rivalry between tw<» bands is to be admired we feel sure that a letter such as yours, not to n; •')- tinn the serious question of untrue uu<i incorrect statements, wiii not meet with the approval of the citizens of Wanganui as • whole. Lieutenant Buckley has lived in Wanganui fur many years an I the residents know him, not only as an able and dist<»;guished musician and conductor, but first of all as a gentleman; uno who has rendered valuable personal se'rvi to the community in more ways than ;a his official capacity as conductor of th' Queen Alexandra Band, and. one would be safe in saying he is regarded as one of Nature’s gentlemen, who carries with him the goodwill and esteem of the whole community. As conductor of the Queen Alexandra Band Ik* has brought to bear the greatest enthusiasm and ability, and has carried his band to the highest and most distinguished conclusions at tho several contests held over a long period. We, the members and executive of the Queen Alexandra Band Citizens’ Committee, regret to have to write this letter, but feci it is our duty to the. public of Wanganui and our band, and we feel confident that the great maj< r ity of our citizens with us would gard a prompt and ahiplc apology as the' strongest evidence in support of your claim to be a lover of fair play. On behalf of the Queen Alexandra Band Committee, ERNST RUNNERSTRUM. Patron. D. AfUNRO, Colonel, Rerimental Represent a tix’®. F. SYMES, Chairman of Committer. Wanganui, Sept. 4, 1926.