CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2105, 20 March 1920, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Mdilor.) Sir. —.\s a member at la.sl years School Committee, 1 claim the right I,; place before Ibe public a review of (he alleged patriotic lactic,-, indulg'd in bv Iho.-e gentlemen who Used the proposed purchase oi a second-hand (lerman pia.no, anted and aliened by a cert a, in outsider, in order to oust the (hen chairman, the writer, and oilier members. Horn the Committee. I’art oi. their tactics was a petition ennvassed by certain present members, calling upon Mr llornhlow to resign from the Committee, and among llie statements circulated w;m that the writer was pro-Ceramn. Now, what do we iihd ’ After Ihe (wo gent lemon resigned from last year s Committee (because of Ihe proposed purchase of a second-hand Gonnati piano for 115), we liml them petitioning the i’.or,nl to prevent it going into the school. Yel now we find the late chairman, wittingly or unwittingly aiming the purchase of a (lerman piano with an alleged English name emblao/.ned on the front, and without satisfying himself that it was an all-British article. I challenge him to disprove my statement that iiu> piano purchased is other Ilian ol (lerman manufacture. Now, what i waul to know is, what attitude is (he present chairman going to lake up, ns he is one who canvassed the petition.’ If he and those associated with him in Hie patriotic “dustup" are’consistent to principle, they will demand the ousting of the present German piano, for which an extra £45 has been paid. “Facts are ehiels that winna ding,” and 1 esk, what will the’staff and Board do 1 The faeis are as (dear as daylight, and people who stir up strife for principle or a grand mistake must be eonsi-tenl. or he held up to public contumely. Mo doubt would be convenient to hush ■ the thing np, and I don’t ask for an eye for an eye, but for British fair play, consistency, and honesty of purpose from those responsible for last year's “dust-up” under the guise of patriotism. Now is the time. Meed 1 remind your readers of that Patriotic Manifesto: ".British environment for British schools!” Was the slogan of patriotism used as a disguise.’ Let the future reveal the true motive underlying the actions of the past, if the -eyes of the public are not now opened, i say without fear of contradiction that the old Committee “played the game." In conclusion: What was the local Board representative doing in allowing the Board to sanction the subsidy mi this German piano without a proper investigation, —Yours, etc., E. G. MAH TIN'.