At the Sale Town Council, meeting on Monday the Mayor reported that the Town Band was disappointing. Though the committee had done excellent work. Bandsmen did not attend practices.

It was not good business for the council to subsidise, the Band and get no return. It appeared that the day of Bands had passed. It had been decided to call in the instruments and suspend payment of the council's subsidy.

Concerning Bands, a writer in an exchange says "It has often occurred to me as being singular that no organisation exists in the Common wealth to which country bands might look for education, leadership and guidance generally. Usually these country bands are a reflex of their bandmaster, and are good, bad or indifferent according to the ability and experience of the man in charge”.

Not that he is entirely to blame for he is a man to whom the couple of pounds a week he receives for his services as bandmaster is more in the nature of a prerequisite, or something supplementary to the earnings of his trade.

With the exception of a few of the larger provincial towns, it is seldom that a rural band can offer a bandmaster sufficient remuneration to enable him to devote the whole of his time to the interests of his band. Not till this is brought about, however, can we ever hope to materially alter the present position of the country band.

That band music is extremely popular is conclusively proved by the plebiscites conducted by the Melbourne Press during the past year or two, when public opinion has consistently voted band music to be the best, and that there, seems to be no reason to doubt that the public would be wholeheartedly behind any such movement.

It is my strong conviction that a well trained, proficient band will always command the moral and financial support of the public, irrespective of whether it be situated in the country or the city.

Cr. Chalmer stated he was interested in the Sale Band and asked what was being done in regard to it. The Mayor said nothing had been done. It had been left to him and he was calling a meeting this week to discuss the matter.

Mr. Thornton conductor of the St. Kilda City Band, has been appointed bandmaster of the Sale Town Band. Mr. Thornton, who was selected from a number of names submitted by a Melbourne musical firm, has taken over his new duties, and has created a very favourable impression. He already has a number of boys in train as budding musicians.

Yarram Band has suggested this year two inter-town visits be paid by the bands in the Sale-Yarram-Traralgon group. They wish the first recital to be held at Traralgon.

The ladies' committee held an enjoyable social evening last Monday, which was attended by a large gathering of bandsmen and friends. The committee wish to thank Mr. Nancarrow for donation of pies, also Mr. Burton for donation of wood. The Sale Town Band under the baton of Bandmaster H. Thornton will give a recital in Victoria Park on Sunday next at 3 p.m.