KEEN INTEREST IN N.Z. BOOKS IN U.S.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 14

KEEN INTEREST IN N.Z. BOOKS IN U.S.

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. A keen interest by Americans in New Zealand, and particularly in New Zealand books, was found by Mr Ivan Day, of Auckland, who has returned from a visit to 10 Central and South American countries and 45 of the States of the United States. Mr Day, who was for many years chairman of the. Auckland Education Board, went to the United States as delegate

from the New Zealand Gladiolus Council, to the North American Gladiolus Convention in Texas. Afterwards, with the cooperation of the New Zealand Tourist Department, he toured widely, giving lectures and showing films and colour slides of this country. Many Sold “I also took round about a hundredweight of recent New Zealand books to show the Americans,” said Mr Day. “These aroused keen interest and so many people wanted to buy them that I arranged for orders to be sent back here. “A large number of books have been sold as a result and I think there is an opening for New Zealand to sell her authors’ work over there. In my visits to public libraries I also found great interest in New Zealand literature and I have arranged for copies of many New Zealand books to be supplied there also.” Mr Day found that in the United States horticultural and agricultural research was handled by local universities rather than by a government department. By undertaking research into crops in their own areas these universities were able to serve their communities in a very direct way. Taranaki Back H.M.N.Z.S. Taranaki docked at the Devonport Naval Base at 10.45 a.m. yesterday after a 12 months’tour-of-duty in the East. During her trip' she logged 50.312 miles, visited Pearl Harbour, Japan, Si-ga-pore and Hong Kong, and took part in six major exercises.—(P.A.)