PUBLIC MEETING

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1945, 27 February 1919, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING

THU PIANO QUESTION

COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN VINDICATED.

Tho Foxton. Town Hall was crowded on Tuesday night to hear Mr Horublow explain Ids views regarding the school committee's recent action, thepetition for his resignation as chair man*of the Foxton State School Committee, and educational mutters in general. Tire Mayor (Mr .Chrystall) presided.

From Ihe introductory remarks of the chairman onwards the meeting was very animated, and interjections, particularly of a silly nature, were rife throughout. People present described it as being Ihe “liveliest” turn-out Foxton bad seen for many a long day.

Mr Hornblow commenced his address by briefly relating his advent to Foxton some lea years ago, when he had occasion, in his ollicial capacity as a reporter, to attend the school committee’s meetings. At that time there was a deadlock. Ho had been asked to become a member then but had refused. Later ho consented to the appointment for a term and had been there ever since. He did not seek the position, it was virtually thrust upon him. There had been perfect harmony until the arrival of one man. Kef erring to the petition, the speaker said there were men in the community who would sign anything, even to the signing of a man’s life away. He was prepared to be tho scapegoat and would stand alone and fight Ids battle.. Ho wanted to eliminate personalities as much as possible. All he wanted was a fair hearing and he would be satisfied with the verdict, whatever it might be. The pet il ion was the united work of Messrs Kcllow and McMnrray, He was glad they were present; ho always liked to say anything he had to say to one’s face. (Hear, hear; and applause). The petition staled that he had given preference to tho purchase of a German piano, and hud acted in an unsportsmanlike manner to tho headmaster (Air Furrie), and it therefore .called upon him to resign, in accordance with his challenge, that should the petition be signed by 50 householders, lie (_Alr Hornblow) would resign. Referring to his unsportsmanlike action towards tho headmaster, lie would completely deny that charge. He explained that as the committee were not absolutely.-- unanimous in. allowing Mr Finnic to speak at the committee meeting, as chairman ho had to refuse permission. A voice: The board’s against you there.

Air Hornldow: Xever mind the board just now. Continuing, Air il.onihlow said he had no idea they could Jind nt) people to sign the petition asking him to resign, after all. lie had done for the, wed tare of the children. Personal animus was behind these, two rncu ami the heading of the petition was entirely misleading to the public. The, petition was taken round by Messrs Kellow, Alitchell, and a little girl. Mr Kellow: Tf you. can prove that 1 obtained LI per cent, of the signatures, 1 will give Xu lo (lie Hospital Board. The motion behind them, continued, the speaker, was that they had a grievance, probably against his paper, and so (hey look round the pel i I ion. There were many people who hud signed the petition under a misapprehension. They heard nowadays a great deal about patriotism but thcio art names on the petition, and one man’.' in particular, who had said that he would sign anything if it was agaiusf Hornblow.

An interjector insisted on Iho namebeing given, and commenced a speech of his own.

The speaker then related the action of (lie headmaster in calling together his staff to discuss 11 1 0 action of the com mi I tee regarding the purchase: of the iiiano. Air Hurric: It was not for that purpose that they were culled together. Air Furrio' further stated that AH Hornldow had used his paper against him.

Jlr Ilornblow stilt! that Air I'uvric had published the finding oi: his slalT ju xhc paper arid he (Hr Fi.vric) had shown indiscretion in bringing the si ail into the matter, as people hold stick diverse views. A. teacher should remain neutral. There were two teachers absent and two who did not agree with the headmaster. A great .number of the people, there were very patriotic, said Hr liornblow, but there arc degrees in patriotism, and there was only one man who demanded the whole admiration of the people, and that was he who made the supreme sacrifice. ■ (Applause.) The committee did not call applications for the piano, but when the tire came a local woman (second to none in patriotism) had offered a piano she had purchased some years before. The price was £4O. Possibly SO per cent, of the pianos in the community were German ones. But nevertheless no one could deny the fact that they could demand their own country’s goods. The most important parts of a piano were sent to England from Germany and the manufacture completed by British manui'ac-

turers. Fully t>o per cent, of the pianos m rim Wanganui Education District schools were probably German. The piano In question was bought from a British firm with British money by British subjects, and convoyed by British ships. ■ The import tax money wont into the consolidated fund, and the piano had easily paid its footing. The instrument was, therefore, intrinsically British. He said Alcssrs AlcAlurray' and Kellow were present at the committee meeting on. October 7. Mr AlcMurray: No; I was not. 1 was at a council meeting. Mr liornblow: There was no council mooting on October 7, and you could not he at a meeting that was not held. Your memory is rather faulty, and your name, appears on the School Committee's minute book. (Laughter.) Continuing, Air liornblow said that ,io member had offered any argument -uminst the purchase, of the piano when the offer was made.'The letter was held over. At a later meeting it , was decided to obtain an expert, to examine nnd purchase it, which was done. Airs Hussey did not hide the fact that it was of German make, and the members knew that. . , Continuing, the speaker said the minutes of the previous School Committee meeting were eonlirmed at the subsuouent. out*, and ' no comment was ]U udc. But, at the meeting in November Air Kellow gave notice of motion to rescind the previous motion. The cvnert had said the present .value of t i‘i rnano was £SO s "to £BS, whereas it was offered for £4O. "Will you name •„ who made .such a liberal offer ilni,l the school fair?” If (hey did not want that piano, the “patriotic should have said they would make up the difference of £4O if they wanted a British instrument. Kellow and AleMumy had rcobmed because the committee had -refused the motion. They then communicated their ’ grievances to the Board. ‘ Mr Hornblow then head copies of all Ce letters that had passed between Messrs. Kellow and AlcAlnrray and the Rnard “These letters were the ,ionu brain powers of Messrs Kellow and AlcMnrrav N Ho (Air Hornblow) was ■ ,Mcct.lv right in his -action of preventing the headmaster from speaking the meeting as referred to m the

letters. The correspondence between the School Committee ami the Board, and. also the finding of the meeting’ of teachers, convened by Mr Ferric, to protest against the purchase of the piano was read. The committee had an overdraft at the bank at the time of the purchase, which was long before the fair. Mr Hornblow then read a report of the Wanganui .Education Board’s meeting, when Mr Piruni laid said that it was a question whether the Board could recognise the complaint of Messrs. Kcllow ami McM'nrray now that they were not. members of the committee. He agreed with Mr Pirnni that there was more under this trouble than was realised. He condemned the action of Mr Fraser for sitting as an ox-parle in judgment on the committee. Mr Fraser had told the Board that feeling was very strong against the committee. “Why did he not tell the Board that they had not a penny in their coffers when tint purchase, was authorised?” Mr Fraser hud staled the people would not have subscribed money to the fair if they knew that, the piano was a German one. Mr Hornblow said the people did know that fact.

At this stage the .speaker referred to Mr Birani’s .statements that ho would sooner see indecent pictures in the school than a Gorman piano. Cries of “Shame! Shame!” A voice: Oh, that was only one of Kinmi’s jokes.

Mr Hornblow: It’s like you—a very brutal joke. (Applause.) The lime was coming, lie continued, when they would sec the effects of tho was. in a clearer perspective. They would never have peace while hate existed both internationally and at home. The Gorman people were never consulted*'about the war. They were down-trodden, and were the tools of a few War Lords. Ho again referred to the I’irani picture statement, and said that owing to hate of the Germans that man would prefer pictures that would continually create immoral impressions than have a German piano. They had forgiven the Boers and the French, whom they had- been told to “hate like tho devil,” and it was impossible for peace to exist unless there was international harmony. “Hate, like adversity, finds strange bedfellows,” remarked Air Hornblow. He was glad to sec the progress made by Air Furrc, but lie preferred the statements of the Commissioner for education of the United States to those of the headmaster regarding (he quest ion of hatred. He then read extracts dealing with the relationship of nations., and he hoped tho teachers would take broader views.

tin conclusion, Air Hornldow slated lie did not seek the suffrages cl: the people. lie was prepared In lake a hack scat if ihey so desired.. Whatever he had done was always to advance cdiical ion locally and Cor the welfare of Ihe children. It had always hern his intention lo have school bulbs. (Cheers.) The trouble was they never had. a. drainage or water scheme. The speaker dealt will (lie urgent need, el; improvements in the salaries and conditions of (oachcrs. river. X.IOO as a minimum would he little enough for thoroughly (rained teachers. (Hear, hea i’.) At Ihe ccnclusliui of Air Hondilow’s address. Air .Henderson, moved; ‘''That this meeting refuses (o endorse the petil him calling upon Ihe chairman of the School Committee lo resign." The motion was seconded. A very animated discussion arose in Ihe audience, and numerous amendments were burk’d up to the chairman. Air Kellow said that Air Hornldow hud put up a hliiff. (Uproar.) lie would move as an amendment: "That this mod dig regrets the action of the committee regarding the purchase of the piano, and tint, the chairman (Mr Hornldow) ho asked to keep up lo his challenge." The amendment was put to Ihe meeling and lost. The motion was carried A further motion, as follows, was proposed by Air Henderson, and seconded by Air Walker: “Taut I his meeling approves of the action of a majority of the committec in accepling Hie generous offer made by a patriotic resident to replace the piano desl roved, hut urges (lie committee to Mihsii!ute it with an insi nnnent of British inaniifaclure if Alcssrs.. Kellow and AfcAl.nrray provide all necessary money over (bo AMO, as set down in their leiler to the Board." Air Kellow' said the mol ion was imnecessarv, as the Board had decoded not to allow Ihe piano to remain. Ho referred to the statement made by Mr Hornldow regarding knowledge of the origin of the piano’s nianiifaclure before it was purchased. Ho Hatty denied Iho statements.

A voice: You’re very innocent all of sudden anyway. (Laughter and howls, amt "Sit down.’’) '.Mayor Chryslall moved: “That this meeting calls upon Mr F. Pivani to unreservedly withdraw his statements with reference to the introduction of indecent pictures in State schools; or, failing that, to tender his resignation as chairman of the Board.’’ The motion was seconded by Air .Reid. A heated discussion arose in the audience. Air Mellow said that. Air I’ii'ani ’was undoubtedly only 'speaking in a figurative and jocular manner. Him it- mark was not favourably received by the audience, and a. number of them commenced to count Air Kellow out. The motion was almost unanimously carried.