Author m the News in Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 3

Author m the News in Australia

MR WELLS SORELY TRIED. SYDNEY, Jan. 27. The well-known British Author, Mr H, G. Wells, who came to Australia to escape the rigours of the English winter and to talk a little at the Science Congress at Canberra, left for London by flying-boat yesterday, a tired man and a victim of public life and literary fame. In Mr Wells’ three weeks’ stay in Australia he was never out of the limelight. He spoke more than any other man at the Science Congress, was interviewed almost hourly by journalists—with whom he was often terse—gave broadcast and luncheon addresses, was pestered by hosts of admirers, refuted scores of relationships with persons of his own name (“Wells is the third most common name in England,’’ he said), and was inundated with manuscript from budding authors and playwrights seeking his approval of their genius. ‘ ‘ I wanted to go about and see Australia quietly,” he said, “but instead of being a watcher I have been thb object watched.”

There was one man, however, who sought to avoid Mr Wells, because he found his proximity embarrassing. He was Mr H. P. Wells, occupying a suite of rooms in the same hotel and on the same floor as his famous namesake. Hundreds of telephone calls were received at the hotel for “Mr Wells.” The caller was invariably surprised by the telephonist’s query: “Do you want Mr H. G. for George Wells, or Mr H. P. for Percy Wells?” Most of the callers wanted Mr “H. G. for George” Wells, famous novelist and scientist.. But Mr “H. G. for George” Wills wanted no callers, and would not answer the telephone. Trenchant Attack by Baptist Minister. ♦Some of the author’s addresses, stressing the need for Church and social reform to save tho world from selfdestruction resulted in trenchant attacks. In reply to a statement by him at the Sydney Town Hall that “Churches, teachers and experts, who sell us dogmas are keeping us in a fool’s paradise, ” a Baptist minister. Rev. W. J. Jarvis, described the works of Mr Wells as “poisonous bunk.” On the eve of his departure Mr Wells scathingly attacked censorship in Australia. In an address to tho Fellowship of Australian Writers, he said: “I hear dreadful stories about illiterates interfering wilh your radio talks. It is preposterous that lialf-cducated police should decide what is indecent, and intercept books and speakers at the ports in this country. Half-Fascist Country. ’ ’ “Australia is a half-Fascist country and will continue to be until you have got rid of every sort of censorship. No country can be a democracy while it allows censorship of thought. It is utterly ridiculous to deny a man the freest

access to every type of thought that oxists in the world. “A particularly ridiculous thing tliat wo suffer trom in Britain is censorship of tho radio. Why should not every sort of opinion go out on the radio? Nobody is compelled to listen. It is nonsense to say that you must not have talks about‘Russia or economic struggles, or industrial freedom. It is an insult and a preposterous interference with the freedom of you citizens. The same thing applies to books. It is iu suiting, outrageous. ’ ’