'The Shanghai Municipal Council] having taken over the management of the Town Band in 1881 under resolution passed by the annual} ratepayers' meeting, it has followed] the practice of leaving to the ratepayers the initiative in taking action Fegarding the Orchestra. At the ratepayers' meetings in '1923 and 1027 amendments to the Budget} resolution with a view to abolishing] the Orchestra were moved from. the floor, but were rejected. In 1934 a majority of the Council decided, in view of the dificult financial posi tion forecast for the ensuing year, te bring the question of the cost ' of the Orchestra before the Ratepayers' meeting, and the Chairman of Council, in order to bring the matter before the, Ratepayers, moved that action be taken during that financial Year. to. abolish the Orchestra and Band. This proposal, however, was rejected.
The estimated cost of the reconstituted Orchestra on these lines -s $200,000 per annum, a5 com} with approximately $300,000 of the} present Orchestra, while the Sub-Committee expressed the opinion that the new Orchestra would in no way Inferior to. the present one.
If ratepayers desire the continua tion of the Orchestra the onus is] upon them to vote the necessary funds, Inasmuch as the Budget provides" only for expenditure to May 31, 1086.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.