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RHYL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS.…

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RHYL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS. SPECIAL MEETING. On Thursday, a special meeting of the Rhyl Improvement Commissioners was held at the Board Room, Town Hall, to consider the question of providing a promenade band for the ensuing year. Present Messrs Thomas Ellis (in the chair), E. W. Keatinge, P. Mostyn Williams, J. Frimston, G. F. Gunner, Joseph Williams, M. D. Roberts, R. D. Roberts, W. Williams, Ll. Lloyd, M.A., J.P., and H. Parry, with the Clerk (Mr A. Rowlands). THE BAND QUESTION ANIMATED DISCUSSION. The minutes of the last Board meeting re- questing the deputation to further inquire and report on the matter to that meeting were read. The special committee was summoned for the 9th inst,, but owing to the absence of Col. Wright as representing the Pier Coy., the meeting was postponed until Tuesday, the 13th inst. At that meeting, all the parties interest- ed were present. Mr Whitaker said that he was still unable to say what action would be adopted as regards the Winter Gardens, as the arrangements had not yet been definitely com- pleted. After discussion, it was resolved that the further consideration of the matter be postponed until the April meeting, in order to give Mr Whitaker further time to complete his arrangements, and to enable the committee to submit a report on the arrangement. Mr Mostyn Williams Has not the Clerk omitted to read the minutes of, one meeting? The Chairman They were read at the last monthly meeting. Mr Mostyn Williams It would be as well that they should be read now. The minutes were then read, and stated that at a meeting held On the 17th ult. the question of providing a promenade baud for the next summer was considered in accordance with the resolution of the Board. Col. Wright said that the Pier Coy. were prepared to provide an efficient band to give morning and evening performances, but could not entertain the proposal of having any connection with the promenade band. # Inasmuch as Mr Whitaker was not in a position to suggest any arrange- ment, it was recommended that the matter be deferred until he would be able to submit some proposal. The Clerk intimated that Col. Wright had) said at the last meeting of the committee, that they would arrange for the band to give after- noon performances as well. Mr Ll. Lloyd asked if any information had I been received from Col. Wright as to the number of weeks, or the length of time, the band would be likely to stay. The Chairman No, there has nothing been received to that effect. Will any gentleman move the confirmation of the minutes ? Mr Mostyn Williams moved the confirmation of the minutes. He was very sorry that the committee had nothing more definite to lay .before the special meeting, as that meeting was specially called to consider the question. The committee asked for a little further delay as Mr Whitaker was not prepared to give any decision with regard to the Winter Gardens. Under these circumstances they thought it better to defer the further consideration of the matter until the committee had another op- portunity of meeting, and agreeing to some proposal which they could submit to the Board. He believed if the matter was deferred until the April meeting that it would be in good time to make ample arrangements for the band for next summer. Mr Keatinge seconded the confirmation of the minutes, and in doing so asked those mem- bers who were in favour of the band to fall in with the recommendation of the committee to defer the matter until the April meeting. He believed that they would get a Parade band, and by postponing the consideration of the matter until the next meeting their case would not be at all damaged. Mr Gunner was very glad to hear Mr Keat- inge acknowledging his conversion. He now seemed to have turned round against the opinion he held at the last monthly meeting. He (Mi Gunner) was inclined to support the recommendation of the committee. At this stage Mr R. D. Roberts came into the room, and asked what was the proposition before the meeting. The Chairman You have slept late, Mr Roberts, you should have come here before. Mr Roberts 0 yes, if a magistrate was to come into the room, you would read it over to him, but not when Mwrog came in. But never mind, I am getting a big man—I have had a letter from the Queen (laughter). The Chairman Well yes, you are dealing with big people, Mr Roberts. Mr W. Williams: May I ask when we de- cided about the band last year 1 The Chairman In May Mr Williams Decided to advertise for a band or decided on the plan ? The Chairman Decided to advertise for a band. Mr Williams: According to what is before us now, we are no better off than last year. Continuing, he said that at the April meeting they could only decide on the terms, and that they could decide nothing definitely until the May meeting, consequently they would be no better off than last year. The Chairman You can decide at the next -meeting. .)ilr Vvilliams: How can we decide when there is nothing before us 1 We can only de- cide the question as to whether we shall do away with the band on the Parade or not. The Chairman You can decide which is the best way to provide a band. Mr Ll. Lloyd: But you cannot decide which band to have. Mr W. Williams, Just so. Then I say we will be in the same position as regards a band &&We were last year. He did not desire to put any impediment in the way of the band, but could not help thinking that unless some immediate steps were taken, they would be just in the same position as last year. The question in his mind was whether something could not be done in the form of advertising for a band at once. Mr Frimston :I.There are applications in hand now. Mr Williams Well, I suppose that those are from mere speculators. I suppose we shall want a better selection than! those we have in hand now. Mr Mostyn Williams: I would like to ask whether we have have not advertised already, and that applications have come to hand ? The Clerk: We have not advertised, but I have received a great number of applications from good men, who know that we are in the habit of engaging a band about this time. Mr W. Williams, continuing, said he felt in his own mind that they would have a promenade band. He believed that the people of the West Parade, with one or two ex- ceptions, were strongly in -favour of having a band. However, he did not want to discuss that point now, but in order to be ready in good time, he would propose as a rider to the minutes that steps should now be taken to advertise for a band. Mr R. D. Roberts seconded Mr W. Will- ioms's amendment. He (had been chairman of the Band Committe, and found it al- most invariably the case, that unless the band was engaged in proper time, that band- masters experienced a difficulty in getting their men together. It would be a suicidal act to do away with the Parade band. There was plenty of argument against such a proposal, and should they decide that day to dispense with a band, there would be a general meeting of ratepayers to protest against it, and there would be a regular row. He was strongly in favour of the proposal to advertise at once for a band, and averred that there were plenty of men willing to come for nothing. He objected to postponing the matter. They had plenty of men on the board who were well able to deal with the band question. They had reduced the number of members from 30 to 21, and he objected to any outsiders inter- fering they had been sent there by the ratepayers, and surely they could be trusted to carry out a small matter like that. Mr W. Williams said the would consent to the recommendation of the committee, on condition that they would advertise for a band in the meantime-I Mr Mostyn Williams expressed himself agreeable to adopt Mr Williams' amendment as a rider to his motion, subject to his seconder also consenting. Mr Keatinge said he would consent, but questioned whether that course would be practicable, inasmuch as they could not define the terms. Mr W. Williams: You can ask on what conditions they will supply a band. Mr Ll. Lloyd did not see that any harm would be done if they advertised for a band in a general way, such as asking on what terms they would supply a band the only definite thing being the length of time the band was to stay, and they could then ask on what conditions they would supply the band. The Clerk We have general conditions, on which we have proceeded for years. Mr LI. Lloyd, continuing, said if they decided that they should have public music, then there was not a moment to be lost. At the next meeting they could only decide on the general principle as to whether they should have a band or not. They could not settle which band, and if they did not ad- vertise at once a lot of time would be lost, and bandmasters would not have sufficient time to get an efficient band together, unless the Board at its next meeting delegated its authority to the band committee, and gave it full instructions to select a band, but the Board as a rule did not care in an import- ant matter like that to leave it altogether to the committee, unless the Board was acquainted with all its details. He supported the motion that they should advertise now. Mr Frimston asked if they were to under- stand that the issue was whether they were to have a Promenade band or not. The Chairman said that a report would be presented to the Board at the next April meeting, and it would be for the Board to accept or reject the suggestion that would be made by the committee who had been entrusted with the business. Mr Frimston Exactly so. He Understood that the Pier Coy refuse to have anything to do with the Commissioners in the matter of providing a Promenade band, and the question was whether they were prepared to co operate with Mr Whitaker, and surely they could decide the point that morning. He expressed his conviction that they must have a Promenade band, and Mr Wm. Williams had foreseen that they would have to adver- tise tor a band at once; that would have to be done immediately, for a band they must have. Mr Ll. Lloyd and the Chairman having explained the position of matters, At this stage a letter was read from Mr Whitaker, which said that he could not give any absolute guaranteee that there would be a band in the Gardens next season, but expressed his conviction that there would be one. As to its strength and efficiency it would not be expedient for him to express an opinion, but it would be to their interest to provide as efficient a band as possible. Mr Frimston again rose with the purpose of speaking. Mr Henry Parry You have spoken before. Mr Frimston: I merely want to make an x I explanation. Mr Gunner Move that the standing orders be suspended. Mr Frimston: May I— Mr H. Parry: No, you have spoken before. Mr Frimston No I have not. M r LI. Lloyd: He asked for information. Mr R. D. Roberts, amid great confusion, stood up, but was unable to proceed. Mr Frimston I believe I have a right to make an explanation Mr Parry: No, you have not. The Chairman Will you 'kindly be quiet, Mr Parry. Mr Keatinge In order to prevent a scene, I move that the standing orders be suspended. The Chairman Please let Mr Frimston go on. Mr Frimston said he was very much sur- prised at Mr Parry, who profesSfed to have the interest of the town at heart, to interrupt a man when he rose to speak in the interest of the town. Mr Parry You have spoken two or three times. Mr Frimston said that Mr Whitaker in his letter was not clear as to whether we would have a band or not, and declined to express an opinion as to what sort of a band it would be. Were they satisfied that there would be an efficient band in the Winter Gardens Could they guarantee to the ratepayers that the Winter Gardens would supply a band sufficient for the parade and the whole town 1 The motion was then put to the meeting when seven voted for and three against. The standing orders were accordingly suspended The discussion was continued by Messrs E. W. Keatinge, Jos. Williams, R. D. Roberts, and P. Mostyn Williams. The minutes were subsequently confirmed with Mr Wm. Williams' rider-7 voting for and 3 against. Mr Wm. Williams then proposed that appli- cations should be sent in not later than the 29th of 'March, and that the Band Committee be requested to meet at 3 o'clock on that day to open the same and report to the following monthly meeting. In making this proposition he was assuming that the Board were going to proceed in the ordinary way-be meant not the special committee," but the ordinary Band Committee appointed by the Commissioners, whoever they were. Mr Llewelyn Lloyd seconded the. propos. ition. Mr P. M. Williams thought the meeting was altogether out of order in proceeding any further with the matter that day. The present meeting had been called to deal with the report of the special committee; and that having been done, he contended that the business of the meeting was over. The Chairman You must remember that we have suspended the standing orders. Mr P. M. Williams: But we have not suspended the business. We have passed a resolution on the report of the special com- mittee, and the business is over. The Chairman thought they could bring in any other matter connected with the band question. Mr Keatinge thought they ought to look at the matter in a generous way. and deal with the whole question. He wished to know whether the applicants were to understand that they would receive a subsidy; and if so. how much? Mr Frimston wished to ktiow whether it was understood at that meeting that the Commis- sioners themselves were going to deal with the band question this year, without the assistance of any outsiders ? Mr Keatinge said, as a member and one of the vice-presidents of the Ratepayers' Associa- tion, that that body would have nothing what- ever to do with the band this year. After some further talk, Mr W. Williams' proposition was put to the meeting and carried -9 voting for, and only one against. The question of subsidy was then raised. The Clerk read a copy of the circular usually sent out to applicants, and which in previous years plainly stated that no subsidy could be guaranteed, and that the Commissioners did not in any way hold themselves liable to the band. Ultimately the matter was left in the hands of the Clerk, and the question of subsi- dising the band will be considered at the next monthly meeting. This was all the business.

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