History Of N.Z. “Ideal Subject” For Authors

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 8

History Of N.Z. “Ideal Subject” For Authors

(Neu> Zealand Press Association)

TAURANGA, August 17. The history of New Zealand, from the arrival of the whalers onwards, was every bit as exciting as the history of the Wild Wesit and New Zealand authors were missing an ideal subject if they did not write about it. said Mr Olaf Ruhen, the noted Dune-din-born author, in Turanga Mr Ruhen, who has lived in Australia for some time, is visiting New Zealand for the release of three of his books. After seeing the library in the historic mission house, “The Elmes,” at Tauranga. Mr Ruhen said the old manuscripts were full of i nterest and he wished he had several weeks to do research om them. “One of the troubles with New Zealand is that there are not enough writers.” he said. In England at the last census there were 59.000 writers and about 8000 of them would live by the pen Mr Ruhen said that thousands of persons had written about the American Civil War. but the exciting periods of New Zealand history were neglected. ‘There are lots of other gaps in New Zealand writing. There are no good moun-

taineering novels, for instance,” he said. Since his last visit to New Zealand there had been a great development in New Zealand writing and publishing and he attributed this to the small publishing firms which were keeping everybody on their toes with good presentation and stories “The same thing has happened in Australia.” he said. Mr Ruhen has worked as a farmhand, labourer, journalist, and author. During the last war he served with the R.NZ.A.F. as a bomber pilot He finds his farming and fishing experiences useful for his writing. For six months of every year he travels the Australian outback on horseback or probes the coast in small schooners.

Award for Research. — A research award of 5000 dollars to the University of Otago has been made by the Rockefeller Foundation, according to the United States Information Service in Wellington. The award is for research being carried out by Dr. J A. R. Miles and D. D. Stann on the ecology of viruses.— (P.A.)