CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1929, 21 January 1919, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —I do not desire to enter the list of correspondents anent the purchase of n piano for the school by the Committee, except for the purpose of paying u tribute to fho feeling which prompted the owner of the piano in offering it to the Committee. Patriotic talk is cheap, and some people will sign anything so long as they arc not asked to put (heir hands in their pockets. AA ell, Sir, when the offer of this piano was made to the Committee there was no talk of a fair, and the owner felt that she would like to assist the Committee by offering the piano to replace the one destroyed in the lire at what she then knew to he £2O below its saleable value—the expert subsequently valued it at £4O above the sale price to tlie Committee. The fact of its being of German manufacture, made and purchased from a British firm before Ihc war, never enlcml into Ihc spirit of generosity which prompted the offer. What more generous offer has been made cither before or since the fair? If (hose objectors who have German-made instruments in their own homes had made the offer to the Committee to pay any difference above £-10 for the purchase of an English piano instead of vaunting I heir spite on one or two members of the Committee it would have been lo (heir credit, and so saved a lot of unpleasantness. It’s a pity they have not displayed the same generous spirit for the welfare of the school which prompted the owner of the piano. Can any of (he so-called patriotic objectors shoe.' a spirit of generosity either to the school or to King and count ry equal to the lady in question? Thanking you in anticipation. — I am, etc., COMMON SENSE. (To the Editor.) Sir.—l read with sonic amusement the rebuff administered to lliu two ox-Sehool Committeemen who have taken upon themselves to pose as the mouthpieces (if the public of Eoxton. But while they are providing Hie public with a lot of amn-e----ment, I fail to see anything resembling common sense in their untie.-, or democratic in (heir vaunted patriotic sentiment, which latter was shown 100 late —the ’war was over. Now, po-silily, after the rebuff they received ai the hands of the more broadminded gentlemen who happen to constitute the majority of Hie Education Board, men with a definite policy and ideals, who arc giving of their best for tin* education of the children into a higher piano of thought and action which will fit them, when they lake their place as useful citizens and as men and wo-» men, they will instil into the public life of this fair land a feeling of true and democratic sentiment, which appears to he lacking in the mentality of those two petitioners who have declared war mi a piano, whose only fault was I fiat it happened to he made in I lie same country as their own instruments. And, hy-fhe-way. I understand that mi“ of those two ex-conuuitleemcn was made an offer for hi- German piano, to test the value of his “patriotic” sentiment, hut apparently he wants its virtues and (‘harming music, in preference to allowing the public to place their estimate on his selfstyled pul riot ism and his conception of a general principle. If it is good enough for him and his confrere to place in llnnr homes German good.-, which their children wijl come in contact with outside of school hours, ami which (hey preferred lo buy in preference to a British article, it makes their use of the word “principle” so much canting hypocrisy. A Vim I would lie I fie n.-e of leaching one thing at school only, and have it undone in their own homes? As regards the statement, made by Mr Fraser, it would lie interesting to know who tin; teacherare that threaten a certain line of action in regard lo Hie use of the piano—in faet, nothing more nor less than a policy calculated lo instil disobedience in the minds of the children. Is there not something Air Fraser left unsaid, also in regard to the staff? Well, Sir, T hope the Committee will see that there is no hacking down lo Bolshevik methods at the dictates of the minority of 1 lie staff. As for the flattery of those two cx-committeemen by Mr Johlin, I hope they appreciate it, seeing that it comes from one of a class which, fortunately for llm ri.-ing general ion, is vani-hing before the dawn of reason, hut who is. unfortunately, unable to help them out of the ruck which holds them fast in the doctrines of hate. —I am, etc., i INTERNATIONAL.