THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4419, 15 November 1934, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL.

Overseas critics have condemned a great deal of the work of Australian writers on the ground that there is a certain dreary sameness about their work —that they write too much about droughts and fires and floods, and that their stories contain too many allegedly comic bush characters of the stereotyped Dad and D'ave class. To this criticism the November issue of the Australian Journal is a most effective answer. From cover to cover there is not a dreary story in the magazine, while most refreshing is the entire absence of the half-wit-ted countryman, who never existed except in fiction, but who was invented to tidkle the ribs of city readers of the last generation. The Australian Journal is developing a school of authors whose work can hold its own anywhere, and who rank with magazine writers the world over. Contributors for November include William Hatfield, Myra Morris, Bernard Cronin, Rex Grayson and the New Zealanders John Patrick, Walter Smyth and Cuthbert Allison. “Ladye Jane” writes an -amusing skit on the Federal Elections, in which the brother undertakes to secure the return of a “Rugless Debit” candidate, with disastrous results. The issue is well illustrated in colour, and the cover is a hunting scene by artist Alex Mcßae, himself a follower of the hounds. The usual cookery, fashion, needlework, radio and children s sections are featured. Certainly Journal readers get plenty for their ■Gd, both in quality and quantity.