Three atlases overtaken by events

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 17

Three atlases overtaken by events

New Zealand World Atlas. 176 pp. maps. 127 pp. index. $21.95. Philip’s World Atlas. 80 pp. maps. 64 pp. index. $13.95 Pocket Atlas of the World. 96 pp. maps, 24 pp. index. $4.25. All published by George Philip and Son, London.

Philip and Son have an old and reputable name in the specialised field of publishing atlases. That name will not necessarily be enhanced by the three atlases they offered for review in New Zealand last month. All are splendidly produced and the “New Zealand World Atlas”, in particular, offers a wealth of information. But in spite of a note in one atlas that it will be “of value for anyone attempting to keep pace with present-day events”, all three volumes have been overtaken by events. On just the points where a reader might require information, they are sometimes silent or inaccurate.

The “Pocket Atlas”, for instance, published in 1979, continues to show Zimbabwe as Rhodesia, and reserves the name Zimbabwe only for the ruined city in the south-east of the country. Saigon is given. its new name of Ho Chi Minh City, but Kampuchea remains as Cambodia. No evidence is given, on Middie East maps, of the territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war. For most countries railways are shown, but not roads. New Zealand .. and North Africa are exceptions in which roads are marked, but the Haast Pass road, for instance, is not shown as completed. Railway employees will be pleased to know that the Waiau branch line is shown as still in existence.

Still, the atlas packs a great deal of information into sm,all compass, in good colour. It gives names in the generally accepted English spelling on most maps (Athens, rather than Athinai). But it is an atlas of places, not of topography, and makes little attempt to indicate the physical structure of the land. The “World Atlas”, also published in 1979, is much more elaborate and generally more up-to-date. It makes the compromise of naming “Zimbabwe-Rhodesia” in that manner.

It gives the name Namibia as first preference for South-West. Africa. Israeli occupation of Egyptian, . Jordanian and Syrian territory is marked. The ceasfire line - between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus is drawn in. The Haast Pass road is completed, ■ but the Waiau branch line is still there. Maps show roads as well as railways: the contours of the land are indicated. Places are generally given in the language of the country (Kobenhavn for Copenhagen) with familiar English equivalents in brackets. Tables give up-to-date figures for the population of major countries and cities; ah attempt is made to indicate climate. The index contains 20,000 entries. The “New Zealand World Atlas” is easily the most elaborate of the three, but also the most dated. This edition appeared in 1976. Thus it does not show' the extent of the Israeli withdrawal in Sinai. Rhodesia remains Rhodesia, Saigon remains Saigon. As well as its maps of places and land form. however, this atlas also indicates, on a fairly small scale, a

wealth of information for the world as a. whole. This section deals, with such matters as the distribution.' of languages and religions, of sources of energy, weather, population, foreign aid, - and volcanoes. In general, names are given in the language of the country. In support of its title the “New Zealand World Atlas” gives 48 pages to Australia- and New Zealand with maps of principal cities, rather unsatisfactory small photographs, and small maps showing such things as the distribution of manufacturing and livestock in New Zealand. Curiosities appear. For instance the road from Cashmere to Governor’s Bay is labelled “Motukarara Highway”. But this is generallv a good atlas. Its index has 50,000 enti'res, the maps are clear and convey a great deal, of information. In a new edition, updated to take account of political changes, it would serve well as a family reference book. But Philip and Son are going to have to make a decision about the Waiau branch line. — Literary Editor.