AN IMPROMPTU LEVEE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 April 1934, Page 6

AN IMPROMPTU LEVEE

BERNARD SHAW ENTERTAINS CONFESSES IGNORANCE OF MOA ORIGINAL BUSH SCENERY. PRAISE FOR N.Z. GIRLS(By ieieffrapn —Presa AwooiAtioiu) CHRISTCHURCH, April 8. Mr George Bernard Shaw entertained half a. dozen reporters and as many listeners and spectators at. an impromptu levee in the lounge or the United Service Hotel for more than an hour after his arrival on Saturday afternoon. Mr, Shaw seemed. to enjoy himself a.s much as his audience. After his arrival he disappeared for an hour to rest and then reappeared in the lounge. “Well, what <lo you want me to talk about?” he asked as he approached a group of reporters. “What is it to be to-day?” When the talk began, many others came to join the party of listeners and questions were fired at him from every direction at once. ... , Someone asked him why he came to Christchurch. He threw back ms head and laughed. “Christchurch .claims to be the most intellectual city in New Zealand,” he said, “and T was most disappointed when the itinerary planned for me did not include it. Howeve” the b"oat on Sunday night from Picton was suddenly changed to Satur_ day. so J decided to come to Christchurch. I am sorry I could not give you "more (notice because., of course, you didn’t have a chance to put up all the triumphal arches and decorations.” An impressive" voice from the audi<ecn.ee, Dr Thacker’s asked: “Do you know, sir, that we have in the museum here the largest moa skeleton in the world?” . .. Mr Shaw looking surprised, replied: “Well, no,' I didn’t, I’m.afraid. I don’t know what a moa is.” Dr Thacker; “It.is the largest wingless bird in New Zealand, sir.” Mr Shaw: “A wingless bird? But T don’t call a bird wingless unless A has wings. Wait a minute, though. It s.sounds rather like a politician to me—one of those politicians who haven’t the slightest knowledge of politics. ’

first PLANCHETTE board. Another questioner asked Mr Shaw if he knew anything about spiritualism. ..... ~ “I know all about spiritualism, Air Shaw replied. “I attended my first seance at the age of about six. Why, the first planehette .board in Ireland was used in my parents’ home in Dublin. The man who used to work it —it wrote very well for him—afterwards went to Australia, not voluntarily, though.” The talk turned to New Zealand scenery. “There’s one thing I noticed about you New Zealanders,” said Mr Shaw. “Wherever I go people ©ay to me that they must take me to see New Zealand’s last bit) of original bush. I have driven through miles and miles of it since I have been here, and each Bit seems to be just as much, the last and first and as original as the one before. “I must say, though, that it is unlike any bush I have ever seen before-. The ferns and other native plants make it delightful, but I don’t like yoarj stumped, paddocks. They look like the j old battlefields on the western front,; with the tree trunks all battered and smashed and burned by shells. The Government should compel owners to take them out. No expense should be spared for the sake of appearances.” A questioner asked what Mr Shaw thought about vegjefairi arusm. “Of course, the difficulty is these sheep,” j Mr Shaw replied. “If only they would be content to take the wool off them and leave the meat Tt would be quite easy.” t2 But you can’t eat wool, sir,” a-e----marked an aggrieved voice, and Mr Shaw joined in the laughter. “Have you enjoyed the very strong New Zealand limelight into which yon have been thrust?” he was asked. “Oh, I am used to it,” Mr Shaw replied. “I don’t mind it.” STORY OF CARICATURE. "While he had .Been talking one of the group had been taking a pencil sketch of his head and shoulders, and when the artist handed it to him Mr Shaw said: “Oh well, I suppose I’m like that, but there was a time when artists could make me quite handsome.” Talking of caricaturists, Mr Shaw told a story against himself about David Low. the New Zealand caricaturist now in London. “Low did a caricature of me one day,’’ he said, “and I thought it was nothing like me. I may say I told him so. A "few days later I was at a reception at Lady Astor’s house and on entering a room full of people I saw a figure and at once exclaimed to myself: ‘Now there is » chap who is exactly like Low’s study of me.’ I went towards the figure and found I was walking up to a huge mirror.” . A questioned “What do you think of New Zealand girls?”

Mr Shaw: :< oh, wet!, I’m too old to be a judge of that. ! find them very good-(looking, {lhd<ejed, ibeibter looking than the average English or Contin-

ental girl. They are hnopy and cheerful, too. That seems to be a character, istic of you New Zealanders. Even your reporters who. Heaven knows, have not much reason to be happy, look cheerful enough, and (this with a smile) you seem to be quite sober, too.”