HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-09-02, Page 21WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1987
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SECOND SECTION
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After seeing how a Sherlock Manning piano is assembled at Draper
Brothers and Reid Ltd., NDP leader Bob Rae sat down at a "player
piano" and literally pumped out a few tunes. Sources say Mr. Rae
is a former concert pianist, so the August 28 tour in Clinton was
right up his alley. Looking on is manager Andy Burgess (left) while
owner Paul Ryckman (right) explains the mechanics of the piano
to Huron NDP candidate, Paul Klopp. (Anne Narejko photo)
Before speaking on the subject of the piano factory, NDP leader Bob Rae toured Draper
Brothers and Reid Ltd., the only remaining piano manufacturers in Canada. Here he
stops to take a look at one stage of manufacturing with owner Paul Ryckman (left).
(Anne Narejko photo)
Draper Brothers and Reid
propose another extension
By Anne Narejko
CI,INTON - Time is running out for
Canada's last remaining piano factory and
it's up to the provincial and federal
government to step in and provide
assistance, says New Democrats ,Party
leader Bob Rae.
Mr. Rae, a former concert pianist
himself, toured Draper Brothers and Reid
Ltd. on August 28 with a large entourage of
media people and a few local NDP
supporters.
The 112 -year-old Draper Brothers and
Reid Ltd. was $1 -million in debt when Paul
Ryckman purchased it, but despite this, he
thought there was a future. To prove his
point, Mr. Ryckman tried untapped
markets and was rewarded with a 1,200
piano order, more than triple the 352
pianos sold last year.
However, the company has no operating
capital and is behind in their delivery.
Various avenues have been tried by Mr.
Ryckman, including the Ontario Develop-
ment Corporation (ODC), the Federal
Business Development Bank ( FBDB ),
banks and private investors.
The ODC has guarenteed a $400,000 loan
and Mr. Ryckman has worked out an
agreement with Robert Reid of Arcom
Development to carry out the building
rehabilitation once the operating capital
has been secured.
However, Mr. Ryckman claims he was
told to "go find another bank" after trying
to obtain a loan from the Royal Bank and
the FBDB has not came through with a
loan either.
"We're not looking for a handout. We
don't necessarily want a grant. We're will-
ing to take a long term loan," Mr.
Ryckman told the crowd gathered at the
factory on August 28.
Mr. Ryckman was told the government
could not pay for working capital, and Mr.
Rae says this should be changed.
When asked what he'd do, he said, "I'd
expand the mandate...Treasurer Robert
Nixon has to sit down with the people of
Ministry of Trade and people of elsewhere
and work this out," he said. "The govern-
ment of Ontario has got to provide
assistance...especially when the market is
there."
Buy Canadian
"The product is competitive in tone, in
quality and price, yet the school boards
buy elsewhere," commented Mr. Rae on
the government's purchasing policy.
A press release distributed by the NDP
noted, "Earlier this summer, the Universi-
ty of Western Ontario - about 80 km. away -
used a provincial government grant to buy
15 West German pianos. Draper Brothers
and Reid weren't even asked to bid on the
sale.
"The province's failure to give domestic
producers the same break in Ontario that
other governments give their homegrown
producers has added insult to injury for
Clinton's piano makers..."
The latest figures available show that in
1989 nearly 30 per cent of the $15.5 -billion of
purchasing by the Ontario government,
municipalities, school boards, hospitals,
universities and Crown corporations went
to imports.
Mr. Ryckman said during the past years
Draper Brothers and Reid produced a pro-
duct that cost less than the imports, but the
prices are relatively competitive now.
"Our quality and size of product are
competitive, there's no reason why they
can't buy a Canadian piano," he said.
If the piano factory was to close its
doors, the government would lose
$3.5 -million on an 11.3 per cent tariff.
"They say this isn't necessarily so.
They'll take it and bargain somewhere
else. Am I to tell the people of Clinton
they're a bargaining tool?" asked Mr.
Ryckman.
The last proposal Mr. Ryckman and his
lawyers made, enabling them to keep their
doors open, was that they would have their
operating capital by August 31. This date
has come and gone and they still have not
been able to obtain the capital needed so
they are proposing an extension to
September 30. This is the last extension
they can be granted under the original pro-
posal made in April.
But if Mr. Rae has his way, the piano
factory will continue to produce for many
years to come.
"The people of Clinton have been mak-
ing pianos for two and three generations
and they need to continue to do so," he
said. "We (the NDP) are going to fight to
see that the government does what needs
to be done."
With
... __
WSeptember 10 quickly approaching, candidates are out in full Clinton. One of several people greeting Mr. Rae during the August
forcAfter visiting London, Bob Rae, NDP leader, came to Huron 28 tour was Huron NDP candidate Paul Klopp (centre) and his son
County and toured the Draper Brothers and Reid Ltd. factory in T.J. (Anne Narejko photo)
The media entourage was in fine form during NDP leader Bob Rae's visit to Draper
Brothers and Reid Ltd. on August 28. Several television stations and newspaper
reporters were out to cover the event. IAnne Narejko photo)
t