MISCELLANY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28370, 31 August 1957, Page 3

MISCELLANY

Poison on the Land. By J. Wentworth. Day. Eyre and Spottiswoode. 243 pp.

J. Wentworth Day is a wellknown champion of rural England, who has a formidable list of books to his credit. In this one, he argues the case for less interference with Nature and for a truce in the war on wild life. This is not an easy argument to handle in relation to agriculture, which implies interference with natural things, without giving the impression of continual resentment and displeasure. An argument of this nature can so easily degenerate into a record of disaster. This nearly happens with “Poison on the Land,” which does not give sufficient credit to the constructive side in the struggle for existence in the countryside. Competition is very keen for the available food supplies. Moreover, most of the testy arguments presented by Mr Day are associated with the ruination of game. Mr Day clearly likes his shooting. Whatever the motive, however, this watchdog of English country interests does useful service by drawing attention to many abuses. In particular, his chapter on farm chemical dangers to wild life spotlights a serious problem in Britain. The ruthless war on wild life associated with a crowded community may one day reach serious proportion in New Zealand. Though written about a different environment, this book takes up broad issues which already have a limited application in New Zealand.

Fool’s Gold. By Erik Munsterjelm. Allen and Unwin. 250 pp.

Mr Munsterjelm has spent a lifetime trapping and prospecting tor gold in the North Western provinces of Canada. Never able to make a fortune, he nevertheless turned up everywhere it was thought that gold could be found. The record of his experiences and adventures and the observations he makes on the people he meets are informative. They also indicate something of the madness which comes over people at the thought of quick riches. Tiring of the search tor gold and all that goes with it, he returns to trapping and to writing. This is Mr Munsterjelm’s second book about Northern Canada and it is well worth reading. Black Mistress. Jane Bernard. Hodder and Stoughton. 224 PP-

This book is written as a tribute to the men of British Colonial Administration. A classics degree from Oxford did not fit the author for her work as a District Commissioner’s wife in Togoland in Equatorial Africa, but this story is much the. better for it Jane Bernard’s simple matter-of-fact style, wry sense of humour, and acceptance of the unacceptable make this a most readable book.

They were Murdered in France. By Harry J. Greenwall. Jarrolds. 160 pp.

Mr Greenwall has lived in France for some 20 years as the Paris correspondent of a London newspaper. His work brought him into contact with many sensational events, including some from the more unpleasant side of life. In this book he has traced the stories of 15 unsolved murders which have taken place over the last 36 years. In each case the murders occurred in France and the victims were English people. To raise the book above the nr—ely sensational Mr Greenwall attempts to compare the methods used by the French, police with those of their English counterparts. Unfortunately this is done too sketchily to be of much lasting value. One case of more than passing interest is that of the Drummond family. The suggested undertones connect Sir Jack Drummond with the war time Resistance movement. The convicted Dominici, on whom the death sentence has not yet been carried out, is in the opinion of the author, a scapegoat. As unsolved mysteries the cases cited hold the interest, but as a means of Comparing police methods in France and England they leave much to be desired. They do, however, undermine belief in the efficiency of French detective work and show how frequently French justice cjn misfire.

Make Your Own Soft Toys. By Brenda Morton. Faber. 63 pp.

In this book, Miss Morton so successfully demonstrates the craft of soft toy making that it could be a valuable guide in handwork classes for girls as well as for adults in occupational therapy classes or for those interested in it as a hobby. The materials required are very simple and the diagrams for each toy are clear and easy to follow. The book is so arranged that the toys are graded in difficulty from the easiest at the beginning to the more complicated pattern towards the end. Practical advice on the best materials and stuffing, with diagrams of the stitches, is given with each pattern. There are designs for a black cat rattle, a duck; a - jumping snowman, a penguin and a jointed teddy bear. In all, there are eleven patterns given with the final note on how to design your own toys. A very good little teach yourself book. Dog in the Snow. By James Riddell. Michael Joseph. 144 PP-

The author of this book was appointed to command a ski school in the mountains of Syria and Lebanon during the recent war. At the school he accepts the ownership of a dog to whom he becomes deeply attached. The ski school and adventures with the dog form the subject matter of the book.