THE PIPES OF MACPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22084, 14 October 1933, Page 17

THE PIPES OF MACPAN

(From the Morning Post.) The New Zealand Tariff Committee, now sitting at Dunedin, has been presented with a problem at least, as delicate and difficult as any’ to be defcided by our own Tariff Commission. An Edinburgh firm ’has petitioned .for the cancellation of the duty on bagpipes, on. the, ground that they “ play a- definite part In the. life of the community.” As New Zea- : land was mainly settled by emigrants from Scotland, such a plea .must have been hard to resist. It may’be suspected that not all Scotsmen are really attached to bagpipe music, but it is a point of honour with them to maintain.that “still their hearts are Highland,” and that the skirl of the pipes sets, the blood tingling in their veins. That being the case, however, is it to be supposed that any mere duty would have sufficed to deprive them (even though they came from-Aberdeen), of the satisfaction of, a passion so deep and elemental? Is it not more likely that; in the. eyes of the New Zealand Scot, the occasion would decidedly be one where saxpence might be “banged" without reflection? If, as the petitioner urged, “ bagpipes pky-a. definite; part; in the life of the community," who would nicely calculate the less or more of the cost? • ■ - ■ - . • ■

Those who have not .the advantage of Scottish birth or extraction would, regard the, problem differently. As >W.S. Gilbert observed, in .his ballad ‘of Ellen M'Jongs Aberdeen, “ You' cannot asanme an affection for pipes.” That, no doubt, accounts for the caustic rejoinder of one member of the New Zealand Committee, when he was reminded that the skirl of the bagpipes had sometimes saved the Empire. .Yes,” he retorted, “by frightening the enemy away.” Perhaps he did not see that his sarcasm only strengthened the case he wished to discredit; for if the bagpipes have such an effect on the enemy the problem of national defence for New Zealand is much simplified; and any loss of revenue from the remission of the bagpipe duty would be a thousandfold recouped by the saving on armaments. A few score pipers stationed round the coast would make the Dominion invulnerable, or perhaps one piper in the capital would be enough, and hie defensive music could be transferred by wireless to loud-speakers mounted, instead_ of guns, at strategical points. In the circumstances, it is difficult to believe that the New Zealand Tariff Committee, “ blindly with its blessedness. at strife,” will persist in denying free admission to bagpipes. The question, is whether there should not be a bonus on importation.