PIANOS IN DEMAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 16

PIANOS IN DEMAND

ENTERTAINMENT OF TROOPS

REPORT FROM EGYPT

Since the advent of radio the piano has not * had the place in home life that once used to be the case, but since the outbreak of the war pianos have been in demand in this country for the entertainment of the fighting forces in camp an,d on board troopship. From Wellington at least two appeals have been made for pianos by the patriotic organisations, and each has been answered through the kindness and willing co-operation of local residents. Now comes a note from Cairo on the value of the piano as an entertain ment medium for troops from Mr. Victor C. Jones in a report he has written for the National Patriotic Fund Board.

Until he left with the First Echelon Mr. Jones was secretary of the Wellington Y.MiC.A. He is engaged in V.M.C.A. work in Egypt and at the same time is acting as representative of the National Patriotic Fund Board. His report to the board was dated March 20.

In his report Mr. Jones mentions that the equipment brought from the ships, viz., pianos, radios, library books, boxing gloves, etc., have been used to the best advantage. Some pianos had been distributed to units where they were being used a great deal, -and the same applied to the radios. Mr. Jones suggests that no further money be expended on radios, but says that.he would like to have more pianos. "If our boys are stationed here for any time at all," he writes, "more pianos would be advantageous." He states he has been told that a certain course of action is to be taken in regard to the disposition of the troops, in which event he says that the four pianos they have will be inadequate. Regarding radios, he states that most of the regimental institutes have sets attached, and that those present in hand would cover the institutes that have none and also the field hospital.

: Mr. Jones mentions that most units have a supply of boxing gloves. Those which were not distributed on the voyage had'been retained in the central store. These would be used for any camp tournaments and also would be distributed to units without gloves.