NOVELIST AND ACTRESS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20790, 25 February 1933, Page 2

NOVELIST AND ACTRESS.

TOUR OF DOMINION. MISS ROSEMARY REES IN CHRISTCHURCH. One of Mew Zealand's best known novelists and actresses, Miss Rosemary Rees. was in Christchurch yesterday m the course of a Dominion tour on corai mission to a London publishing firm to write a book of travel in New Zealand. Miss Rees, prior to 1934, was a popular actress and actress-producer witu New Zealand audiences, but since that time her work on the stage has taken second place to her writing. Smoe 1924 she has written a novel a year. Interviewed by a representative ot "The Press," Miss ilees explained that her publishers, Chapman and Hall, Ltd: Jjondon, considered that there was 'a demand for a book describing traveJ in New Zealand, and she was commissioned to. tour the Dominion and write it. It is to be called New Zealand Holiday. Already she "as visited half of the North Island, ana she travelled to Christchurch from Blenheim this week. She leit Christchurch for Little River yesterday, where she will stay with friends ana secure material concerning Akaroa ana Banks Peninsula: The tour of the South Island will be rapid but comprehensive. It will include The Hexmitage, Mount Cook, the southern lakes, Dunedin, Cromwell, Southland the West Const, Nelson, and the Frana Joseph and Fox Glaciers. The tour will conclude with a trip through the western section of the North Islancj, taking in, also, Taupo and the Waitomo Caves. Miss Rees hopes to reach Spirits Bay, in the farthest north, intime to witness the migration of godwits, which takes place in the end ot March or early in April usually. "It does not matter two pins, ' Miss Rees said when asked if sne though a novel gained in appeal because its background'was placed in one country or another. "The novel is the thing, and I do not think it matters if the story is set in New Zealand surroundings or those of any other country provided the human interest is reaj anr l interesting.'* Miss "Rees consider? that publishing houses in England have had a fairly good period despite difficult times. She thought that "sex'' novels liar] fallen in public favour, and the demand for books of more depth or for light romance was increasing rapidly. That had been the most noticeable feature of the last year.

The Work of the Cecil Houses. At Grays Inn, London. Miss Rees lives with her* sister, Mrs May West, formerly of Wellington, and as Mrs West has been a helper at several of the women's homes organised by Mrs Cecil Chesterton, Miss Rees had an opportunity of appreciating the work done by those charitable refuges- She was emphatic in her praise for their work. There were five Cecil houses to-day, and the charge was Is a night to women who had no homes. For that sum they were given a bed and light tea and breakfast. Once the initial liability on a house was paid the homes were self-supporting. • The novelist had two- complaints only. One was that theu was a tendency to be antagonistic to America and Americans, especially regarding the international debt question. She hoped that it would not develop, as there was great need for friendliness between Great Britain and America, and without searching the national debt question, she was of the opinion that there were

take offence off this oauli', as none is meant'." f. Three of Miss Rees's novels have been published during the la£t two years in the London "Evening Standard." Her novel. Dear Acquaintance, wais the only one she published in America, and she has still one to write for Chapman and Hall. An American newspaper is negotiating with Miss Rees for her second serial rights at present. She has not given up stage acting, and last year had a strenuous repertory season. Shis also was the second lady player in Olive Brook's talkie "The Return of Sherlock Homes."

WORKLESS WOMEN AND GIRLS.

MEETING OP COMMITTEE. The meeting of the Women's Unemployment Committee was held last night, Mrs A. E. Fraer in the chair. Mrs D. G. Sullivan submitted a request that press reporters be admitted to the meeting of the committee. The secretary of Toe H 'Women's Division notified, that Miss Havelaar had been reappointed as its representative. Mrs J. G. Coatee wrote thanking the committee for copies of menu' and recipes. Stadiums, Limited, wrote stating 1 that the request for tickets on behalf of unemployed .women and girls would be considered. The cookery report presented indicated that 724 meals had been supplied, and 1026 dinners to necessitous families. The committee wished gratefully to acknowledge v gifts from Miss Duxbury, Miss Tubs, Miss Gunn, anonymous, Mrs Hanham, Miss Hancock, Miss .Canning, Mrs Burrows, Misses G. and L. Campbell, Mrs Jopp, Mrs Steeham, Mrs Lowry, Mrs Patrick, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Chick, Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Hull, "Sun" Newspaper, Mrs Longe, Mr Roberts, Mrs Hugh Acland, and Mr Kruase. The cooking and sewing committee presented its report on the work carried on at the training centre and sewing centre. The finance committee presented its report, which was considered satisfactory. Mrs Denniff was added to the finance committee. v The advisory committee presented its report upon need for clothing for some of the girls.