THE GERMAN PIANO INCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2106, 23 March 1920, Page 2

THE GERMAN PIANO INCIDENT.

THE great majority of the local general public, including parents of children attending the local Elate school, did not care a twopenny jotwhet her the piano for the local Etate*scliool was of German manufacture or not, provided preference was not given to a German firm for a now German instrument, against one of British make, at u time when

par riot if sentiment ran high. Every school hr>y knows that Germany

specialised in the manufacture of pianos and othey musical instruments, and that many British and French piano firms imported the vital internals from Germany and assembled and put them on the market as-British or French goods. What lias happened to the piano trade since the prohibition of German pianos and parts 1 ? Why has one of the leading British piano houses been compelled to close down, and what is the reason for the exorbitant prices demanded for new and second-hand pianos throughout the world to-day ? The reply is self-evident. To deny the trading of second-hand pre-war pianos of German manufacture in the country on the ground of patriotism is ridiculous in the extreme. The Wanganui Education Hoard would have been justified in its action against lasi year's School Committee, had (he purchase of a. new piano of German workmanship been eoulemplaied. Such, however, was not the ease, and by its action in fostering a false sent linen I it brought itself and those who were primarily responsible for the agitation, into Dominion-wide ridicule. The present Committee decided to purchase ;,!t all-British instrument, and acted in goad faith when it resolved to purchase the present piano, Thu Chairman declared that the piano under offer was the genuine article. No investigation was made to satisfy Committee and Board (hat the instrument was ■ other than “all British,” and “everything in the garden was lovely" until Ihe tuner discovered that “Oscar Kohler,” of Berlin, was the maker. Therein lies the irony of the whole thing. The Board and those responsible for the extreme restrictions must now justify their actions by exchanging'the piano tor a genuine all-British article. If tins is not done, then the public has a right to assume that the piano stunt, was a blind to serve some ulterior end.