A GERMAN PIANO.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1919, Page 3

A GERMAN PIANO.

not wanted at foxton

The proposed purchase of a German made piano for the Fox ton School was the subject of an interesting discussion at the Education Board’s meeting a few nights ago (reports the Wanganui “Herald”) Mr Pirani moved; ‘‘That the Board inform the Foxton school committee that it will not give its consent t° a piano of German manufacure being placed in the Foxton School.”

Mr Fraser seconded the motion, and said that feeling was very strong in Foxton over ,tliis matter. Mr Mclntyre said lie was not in favour of the purchase of this particular piano, but he did not think the hoard should interfere with the matter. The piano was purchased by a citizen when Germany was a friendly Power, and it would only be accentuating the loss of a British citizen to refuse to purchase itMr Collins objected to a German-made piano being placed in a school, as it would he a. bad object-lesson to the children. Mr Freetli considered the board should not interfere. The piano was a product bought, by by British money in a British community in honest- trading, and it really was not a German-made instrument.

Mr -Pilkington suggested the motion should be altered to read that the Board strongly disapproved of the purchase of German-made articles of furniture. He thought the matter might well he left for a few weeks to allow the electors of Foxton to deal with the matter.

Mr Pirani was emphatically opposed to the introducion of a German-made piano into the school. The whole point was its effect upon the children. Tt would have a malign influence upon file children and they would scoff at marching and singing to a tune played on a Gerinammade piano. Personally lie was opposed to it and would sooner see fifty thousand indecent pictures in the school than one German-made piano. The hoard should make every effort, to dissociate itself with anything German made -

An amendment to the effect that the buard should express its disapproval of anything German-made being introduced into schools was lost on the casting vote of the Cliairipns.

The original motion was carried by 5 to 3.

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. — eOiiritlOliT-J THE’ Q.UESTIOX DISCUSSED. AT A PUBLIC MEETING. FOXTON, This Day. At a largely attended public meeting last night, the Mayor presiding, the School Committee’s action in accepting the offer of a second hand piano of German make was discussed. At the conclusion the Committee’s action was endorsed, hut it was urged to substitute a British instrument if the difference in price Is subscribed by the public as promised by two of the Com mittee. A petition calling upon the Chairman ot the Committee to resign was not envoi's-

The Chairman of Wanganui Education Board is to be asked to unreservedly withdraw bis statements, in preferring indecent pictures in the school to the German piano, or to resign his position.