BERNARD SHAW

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 52, 2 March 1934, Page 7

BERNARD SHAW

APPROACHING VISIT

- A PLEASURE TOUR

INTEREST IN DOMINION

(From "The Post's"' Representative.) j ...':'. ;' LONDOX, January 25. j Cable messages are faster than mail j news, .therefore it is already known that -Jsew. Zealand is to have a visit from; Mr. .G-.Bernard Shaw and Sirs. Shaw. ■■' : ■* ■ • Honestly, one., cornea to the conelusipnrthat:the;desire to leave-the world a.-:little better than he found it is the actuating- wish of Bernard Shaw, the motive power, that has kept him working at top. speed to. his present age of 78 years. He is. a vegetarian and a teetotaller. , Mrs. Shaw is neither, and does .not impose these abstinences On her guests. If the former's mode of living ■ has been responsible for the present vigour of his mind and tho straightness and manliness of his tall figure,.has he not been justified? It is ■■ difficult to deny it. '..'... What he has had to do in the past with-matters bearing on the Communal or Rational life has, one assumes, been done.jn an endeavour to help mankind along with the human ,ideal; vouchsafed to him. The difference between him and ordinary men is that he has had the courage of his opinions—opinions ;formed as the result of an until': ing study of human life—combined with the ability, the determination, and the physical capacity to commit them iu 1 acceptable-form. SEEKER Or INFORMATION. ■ ilr: Shaw, is not the Shaw of the popular, press. He is anything but pedantic. ... An English gentleman—or, should one say, an Irish gentleman?— he is fond of- asking for information rather .than giving- it. Mr. Shaw- is visiting Xciv Zealand because he considers that it is a country, of beauty, and of interest, and one that should .be : seen. The.voyage via the Panama' Canal will.give him a good rest, and perhaps permit him to do some ■writing.' ' ' A noteworthy fact, and one not generally ■!known, is that -this eminent author is an expert shorthand writer. He does all-his work in shorthand and sands^all- his ."copy" in this form to his- efficient secretary for transcription. Therefore lie does not require to take a secretary, with him when on tour. If afsteiiographer happens to be needed one is always available.' He has a fairly extensive knowledge i of'the. Dominion, tho foundations of j ■which rest on his early acquaintance wjth'Peinber Beeves. In the early days of the British Fabian Society they both, were members. Mr. and" Mrs. Shaw speak to New Zealariders of Mr. and' Mrs; Beeves: th fey were all friends, i Mr. Shaw also is interested in Empire affairs,, and it is. quite- likely that he wishes-tofis in his mind, possibly for some, future work, That real part" tho Empire—if present Empire Imperial ideals, are .realised—can- play in the great-human problem, and how much of what is _ visualised can be humanly achieved. '-.''■ .. MONTH OF SIGHTSEEING. It. is also :an undoubted- fact ihat both -Mr. and Mrs. Shaw want to see tho'beautiful scenery of the Dominion of which they have heard. . They have seohv most countries of the earth. Last year'they >v6ya.ged round :the ; world, touching, the Tar .East, before that in the Pacific, especially Honolulu. . They also have travelled .in South Africa. They will. have a month in Kew Zealand, arriving in the Bangltane at-Auckland on March. 15 and leaving in the same vessel on April 13. They have been in close consultation with the Net? Zealand Government Publicity Officer, and they will'"place themselves in the hands of the Tourist Department when they arrive. In all probability, they will hire a motor-car and chauffeur on arrival and go leisurely down ■ through the' North Island, especially visiting the Waitomo Caves and Botorua (where a little time may bospent), the Tongarjro National Park, possibly the "Wanganui Biver, perhaps Xew Plymouth and Mount Egmont, and also .perhaps Napier. They will then cross to Lyttelton and ultimately get down to the Cold Lakes. A good deal, however, is -being left for the Tourist Department at headquarters t- arrange. Maori life will interest the travellers' considerably, though "stunts" in this respect will not be popular with them. . Mr. Shaw was told that a month' is all too short a time in which to see New Zealand. "Well, there is no reason," he replied,'- "why we should not so there-again." . . • . fe