THE SCHOOL PIANO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2091, 17 February 1920, Page 3

THE SCHOOL PIANO.

It will be remembered that after the destruction by tire of the local State school and contents, a local resident offered the School Committee a second-hand piano of German manufacture for £45, the market value of the instrument, according to expert advice, being from £BO to £BS. A protest was made against (he purchase,, owing to its German origin, and a feeling was stirred up in the community which will be long remembered. The Education Board <iuiie illegally at the time refused

to billow a piano of German manufacture to «o into the school. Since then, the Department'has .agreed to a £ for £ subsidy on school pianos. Al last night's School Committee meeting Mr Kellow said he had communicated with leading' piano lirms re a 1 second-hand piano tor the school, and (he prices ranged from £BO to over £IOO. A local resident had ottered to sell the Committee a second-hand piano, almost as good as new, for £IOO. which had been reduced to £9O. He had b%m informed by a person who he had asked to inspect it that the instrument was well worth £IOO. Mr Tlorublow said that he believed, the piano was well worth the price asked although the original cost of same was .much below its present value. Tie would object to more than £ls being paid onl of the Commit lee’s fund for a piano, which, with the subsidy,' would he £9O. Mr Coley said he would oppose (he purchase of the piano, as he considered a cheaper one could he obtained. Mr ’Claris said he possessed a similar instrument to the one uttered, and be considered its present value over £IOO. A good deal of discussion look place on pianos in general, and it was finally decided to purchase the instrument, the cost to Ike Committee being the sumo as for the one first offered, except .that the original oiler meant a sacriliee to the owner on behalf ofthe school of £lO odd, and hnd the subsidy been in vogue al the lime, the cost to toe Committee would have been £22 10s. Mr Colev registered his vote against the purchase.