CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2092, 19 February 1920, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir. — Re the School .Gouunittee’s action in purchasing. It second-hand £IOO piano for £9(l I would like to ask why did not the gentleman who made enquiries for a piano invite and give an opportunity to any loyal and patriotic owner possessed of a British-made instrument to show a like generosity with the lady who offered a- second-hand piano of German manufacture at half its market value. [The suggestion was made to hold over the purchase until local enquiries were <made. —Ed. H.] Patriotism of the, mouth and patriotism of the purse are hyo different 1 things with some people. But. Stir, (lie public was informed, and the Board also at'the time, if the Committee only intended to spend £45 on a piano local patriotic'Citizens would come to light with the extra for a now piano of British make. Well, Sir, I think some/ of your readers’ eyes have* been opened at last. After all this fuss and laid feeling, is the Committee satisfied that the piano purchased is absolutely and genuinely a British article? It does not follow, Sir, that because aq instrument is assembled in England that it is British. And, Sir, what is the name of the piano? What was the original cost of this instrument, and how long has it .been in possession of the owner? I do not want to stir up any more had feeling, but, Sir, after all that happened the public is entitled to a fair settlement, and it 'appears to me that a clever point, in keeping with past tactics, lias been worked. —Yours, ietc,, FAIR PLAY. [THE fuels are: Enquiries were made by a member of the Committee for a suitable second-hand piano of British manufacture for the school. Owing to shortage of supplies, the instruments offered were considered too high in price. A local resident had a piano on the market, a “Raymond,” for which £IOO was asked, and I lie price reduced to £OO, which was accepted by the Committee. The cost to the Committee's funds will be £45, the balance is represented by subsidy. It would now be better to let “sleeping dogs lie.” The whole thing was regrettable throughout.—Ed ll.]

(To the Editor.) 1 Sir. —Some three years since you very kindly published a letter in which I appealed for used stamps lo be sent to me for the furtherance of the work of this Home. The response lias been extremely gratifying, and (he stamps now handled by ns approximate to a million a year. These entail a lot of work in cleaning, sorting, and marketing, all of which has been done by Mr E. G. Wiltshire, Tc Awanmlu, (lie net proceeds totalling nearly £IOO. So long as Mr Wiltshire is willing, and he'is still keen to help in this diroc--1 am, we think the labour wejl worth Avliile. We desire, by means of this* letter, to increase the interest which Iho publication of our former letter aroused, and shall be grateful for your assistance towards this 1 uriher publicity. Parcels of stamps mav be sent direct to Mr Wiltshire, or to. myself, and will be gratefully acknowledged. I should say that Mr Wiltshire renders all services in this connection without fee or charge, this being bis contribution to the work of the Home, in which, lie is very much interested. W e arc at present providing for 80 children. — I Yoitrs, etc., THOS. E. WTHTTON, Secretary and Ireasttrer Manure-\ wa Children’s Home. P. 0, Box 386, Auckland.