At the Victoria Hall tonight the Empire Pictures Co. is giving a benefit entertainment, in aid of the Sale Temperance Band debt. As is now well known, the Temperance Band has joined forces with the Sale Borough Band in an endeavour to assist patriotic movements, but before the Patriotic Band can be placed on the desired footing it is desirable that a few pounds owing by the former body should be paid. and the people of Sale are invited, to buy the tickets, which can be obtained from bandsmen and others, to kill two birds with one stone by helping a band which has filled the bill as a band for a long time in Sale, and having a couple of hours of genuine enjoyment at the Victoria Hall to night. The Patriotic Band will march prior to the entertainment.

The following discussion, which took place at the meeting of the Maffra Shopkeepers' Association, is one that should arouse Sale people to action in regard to a local band.

 The Sale Patriotic Band - now that the war is over - has practically disbanded, and it behoves the citizens to take steps to reorganise a Band and place it on a sound basis. Traralgon and Bairnsdale and other Gippsland towns have lately reorganised their Bands, and Sale should be in possession of a band worthy of the capital of the province. It is to be hoped that early in the New Year steps will be taken in the matter similar to that proposed by Maffra.

The President of the Maffra Shop keepers' Association, in suggesting organised assistance to the local Band, said they all desired a Band.

Mr. McAdam said the storekeepers should give so much a week.

Mr. McKenzie said the Band instruments belonged to the towns people. When the young fellows went away to the war, the instruments were left in the hands of the trustees, who had lent them to Mr. Apps. The instruments were valued at £120, and it was not fair to Mr. Apps, who was a competent bandmaster, and not fair to the trustees, to have the instruments out. They should begin the New Year by calling a meeting and have the Band placed on a proper basis.

Mr. Humphries: That would be the better way.

Mr. Leeden: It is unsatisfactory not to have a governing body. Mr. Apps is doing his best, but it is unsatisfactory to him and to the members. A committee should be formed and a secretary appointed.

Mr. Beech: If the Band gets going, it will merit the wholehearted support of the business people in the shape of donations each week.

Mr. McAdam: That is all that is wanted.

Mr. Daniel: If a meeting be called, the difficulty will be got over.

Mr. McKenzie: We will see that a meeting is called early in the New Year.

The committee of the Sale Patriotic Band met at Mr. Herron's on Thursday night to wind-up accounts.

There were present - Cr Lyon (in the chair); Messrs. Guy, Cattran, Bradley, Bandmaster Herron, and Secretary Archibald.

 It was moved by Mr. B. M. Herron that the balance sheet be received and adopted, the outstanding accounts be paid, and the balance be handed to the Soldiers' Memorial Hall Fund. Seconded by Secretary Archibald. Carried.

On the motion of Messrs. Guy and Cattran the chairman was authorised to sign minutes of the meeting.

Mr. Guy moved a hearty vote of thanks to the bandmaster for his services (during the past year. This was seconded by Mr. Cattran and supported by Cr. Lyon, and carried with acclamation.

The bandmaster suitably replied.

Mr. Bradley moved a vote of thanks to the chairman - Seconded by Mr. Guy, and carried.

The meeting then closed.

A meeting of Sale citizens, convened by the Mayor (Cr. Brennan) was held in the Council Chambers on Friday evening, when there was a fair attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. Cullinan and Bolitho, and several other citizens.

The Mayor, who presided, pointed out the desirability of having a Brass Band. He did not know the feeling of the council as to subsidising the band, but he thought that body should donate something to the band funds.

A town was dead without a band. A sports gathering was very dead without music, which cheered the people up. It was surprising what good effect band music had. Probably the council would see its way clear to assist the band in some way. Funds would be required. Money spoke all languages where such things as bands were concerned.

Cr. Kelsey explained that from the Caley's concert, arranged for by ex Mayor Lyon about £9 was raised for the proposed band.

At a previous meeting a committee was formed with a view of forming a band, and several donations had been received or promised. Cr. Benussi said he understood that there was some rent due by the old Borough Band for the hall they practised in. The liabilities of the defunct band would require to be liquidated.

Mr. Archibald stated that when the Patriotic Band was formed they obtained the use of the instruments of the Borough and Temperance Bands. Mr. Herron said if the rent had not been paid for the use of the hall by the Borough Band it was probably due to neglect on the part of the owner of the hall.

Cr. Benussi moved that a Brass Band be formed. It only needed organising to set it going. At present they had only one band in Sale - that of the Salvation Army- and he was proud of it. The Patriotic Band has not received the support it should hare from the business people. Unless the business people were prepared to provide about £200 a year for the band it was no use forming one. It was a scandalous shame that Sale had no band, whilst Stratford, Maffra, and Traralgon had good bands, which met the returned soldiers on their return to their respective towns, whether it be morn, noon, or night business people should wake up and support a band. They exclaim 'Where is the band?" When any function of importance is on the bandsmen are here, but where are the supporters? It was also up to the council and the ratepayers to support a band.

Mr. L C. Treloar seconded the motion. For a considerable time past the Patriotic Band had done all that was possible. They wanted a band worthy of the town, and such a band would require strong financial support. He hoped the meeting would be the means of bringing a good band into existence. He thought it advisable for business people to be waited upon, and the proposition placed before them.

Mr. Shepard said when he came to Sale he was disappointed to find no band here - only a few loyal musicians who turned out during the war. He regretted that so few business people were present that night. No matter how good a band was, public interest must be manifested in it. which would be more appreciated than sitting down and writing out a cheque for the funds occasionally. He suggested that on the committee there should be councillors and bandsmen and subscribers. He would do all he could to assist the band.

Mr. Overend said a slur was cast on Sale when they visited sports gatherings in the outside districts, where local bands were in evidence. Citizens as well as the business people should support the band.

The Mayor said the Agricultural Society had asked the Stratford Band to play at their show in the absence of a local band which did not say much for Sale. It was not nice to have to seek the services of a band outside the borough.

Mr. England said he was disappointed when he heard there was no local band in existence. Ballarat had two or three bands. It would be pleased to assist on the committee or financially. He understood there were 3 local bandsmen, and it should not be a difficult matter to raise the necessary funds.

The motion that a band be formed was unanimously carried.

Mr. Sharp stated that at Caulfield the committee was composed of half citizens and half players.

Mr. Kelsey stated Mr. Hogg had expressed his willingness to act as secretary, and it was decided to appoint him to the position.

Mr. Bradley said as far as the Temperance Band instruments were concerned, there would be no difficulty in securing the use of them.

Mr. Herron said the Borough Band instruments were vested in trustees, the understanding being that if the band became defunct the instruments were to be kept for any future band that may be established. After further discussion, the following were appointed a sub-committee to make the necessary preliminaries and report at next meeting, to be held in Friday, 24th inst.

Crs. Kelsey and Benussi, and Messrs. Treloar, Herron, Archibald, Huckell, and Wain. Cr. Benussi said if the band were placed on a sound basis, he would undertake, with the assistance of some friends, to guarantee £10 to the funds.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Patriotic Band for the services they had rendered during the war. A similar vote was accorded Mr. John Shankly for the use of his room for band practice.

At the request of Mr. Leslie Fraser, secretary of the North Gippsland Agricultural Society, Messrs. Herron and Archibald kindly undertook to provide a band for the forthcoming show.