NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 15 October 1927, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND.

"MORE ENGLISH THAN ENGLAND.** PROFESSOR GRANT'S IMPRESSIONS.. (raojj ocx cws cokbisposdmt.) LONDON, September .1. Professor A. J. Grant continues to contribute to the "Yorkshire Evening News" his series of interesting articles on a variety of subjects as ho views them from New Zealand. The major portion of his latest article is devoted to.the different religious bodies who ua *£:"* in the Dominion.' A JtYenchman called England a ?° U £ ry £ 4C religions and one sauce: m JNew Zealand the religions have increased even more than the sauces, ibis multiplication of religious organisations—which is a feature common to an English-speaking countries, and I think to anything like the same extent only to them—has. come upon us almost imperceptibly." Professor Grant sent a Christchurch baturday paper to a friend in France, mainly because he thought the recipient would, be particularly interested to see the advertisements extending over more than two columns of the services and meetings that were to take place on Sunday. Aprpeciation of the Newspapers, The newspapers of New Zealand are (he writes) assuredly a credit to the Dominion. Be is sometimes amazed at the matter which is presented to their readers. Ho recalls for instance two leading articles, both of them given the first place in the issue. The one was on Virgil prompted by some report that Mussolini was preparing to do honour to his memory; the other was on Walter Pater _ without any particular, prompting cause. . "To-day I observe an excellent article, two columns in length, with a sequel promised, on Smut's recent book on philosophy. Audi these articles do but represent the high.and iitellectual tone of the official part of the papers. Considerable attention is paid to new books and to literature. Over the office of one of the papers there is a motto—characteristically in Latin—which .declares that nothing us useful which is not honourable, and the Press of New Zealand generally seems to me to live up to this high ideal" .< Music in Art. And how do things stand in the domain of art? asks Professor Grant. "The advertisements of the theatre I and the cinema scream their meaningless superlatives ■ from the hoardings and in the advertisement columns with a strident emphasis that goes beyond what we know in Leeds; and I cannot believe that the ' performances which require or submit to such methods of recommendation have much relation to -art. Concerts also are recommended to the public in much the same way. But here, too, there are not wanting encouraging signs. There is'a beautiful museum; a picture gallery with many interesting pictures. "Dr. Bradshaw, the organist at the Cathedral, holds a very high standard «of music constantly before the people,; and his efforts are appreciated. The .accounts of concerts are written with great discrimination and in a niost interesting way. • Christchurch exhibits the same tendency towards independent and amateur effort in, theatrical matters'that has been lately so welcome in I«eecls. Professor Shelley, who holds the chair of education Canterbury College, is a great stimulatrogforce in everything that concerns dramatic art. A college dramatic society under his direction produces works of Ibsen; Shaw, and Masefieldj and is producing/ Masefields Good Friday.' 'More English than England' holds true of the world of thought and art in £Tew Zealand as well as or. political and social life."