MEMORIES ONLY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 19

MEMORIES ONLY

'■In reading "New Zealand Memories," by Brenda Guthrie (John Lane), it should bo Vjorac in mind that these memories are largely handed down from a previous generation, from a family of migrant Scots who joined ono of the first Wakcfielcl contingents sent out to Port. Nicholson. Hence what is recorded is really how theso early settlers felt and what they believed, and their statements and beliefs are not always in accordance with fact. .This naturally discounts the book- as being of an historical value, and, amongst; other things, the Maori receives totally unjust treatment. The value, of "Now Zealand Memories" lies iv the picture it gives of the feelings and rjejiefs of the early settlers, and one can,see how tlieir misunderstanding of the , true state of affairs made their difficulties worse. The pity is that Miss Guthrie has stated as.fact many things which have long since been disproved, and it is a pity that she fails to make clea£ that the mistakes made in the early flays—and all will admit that mistakes we're made —have not necessarily boon perpetuated. The, reading of "New Zealand Memories" without a previous, knowledge of New Zealand history is,' unfortunately, liable to lead to an erroneous picture being ,'created. of. the state of affairs'here in the early tla-ys. ... . . .... - . y