“MAKE ’EM LAUGH,” MR. SAVAGE ADVISED

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1937, Page 4

“MAKE ’EM LAUGH,” MR. SAVAGE ADVISED

[Special To “Northern Advocate"] AUCKLAND. This Bay.

Passing through Auckland on the Aorangi today is a man whose sincere regret is that he cannot, on this occasion, stay in New Zealand long enough to see how permanent are the laughs that the Prime Minister. Mr Savage, has brought to the country. It was not satirically, not cynically but in all seriousness that he expressed this regret; it was not superficial, derisive laughter that he meant but rather “good cheer,” for he believes that the Labour increment can be productive of more lasting cheer than

can any other trend of politics,

This man is Laszlo Schwartz, eminent Hungarian caricaturist humorist, who -is “laughing” around the world.

Three Books Soon

Mr Schwartz is 'on his fourth world lour. He has visited New Zealand twice before, but that was in years prior to the Labour regime. This present trip is dedicated to his various writings and caricatures —shortly ho intends to publish three bocks. “Hungara.” “It Happened in Shanghai” and “Laughing Around the World.” Critics in many countries have paid tribute to the sharpness of his wit in talks and writings, to the brilliance of his lightning caricatures and to his skill with the violin.

Gathering the laughs of the world, Mr Schwartz has made a serious attempt to probe the roots of humour. To do this he has interviewed leading men and humble men to seek from them humour, characteristic of their country.

Politicians and Laughs

“For example,” he said this morning. “to mo politics are not just politics. I believe a good statesman can be more instrumental in bringing real laughter to a country than all the caricaturists, all the humorists, all the Charlie Chaplins, all the circus clowns—because the laughter which a statesman brings is permanent. A good humorist is a good humanist. A good humanist is a good humorist. “So few statesmen you see, realise how valuable humour is. When I tell people that the University of Florida has established a chair of humour, most of them look at me with incredulity in their eyes. They don’t seem to realise how wonderful the world would be if we had more humour.

Mr Savage’s Chance.

“Mr Savage may not realise it. but, in a way, he could become the greatest laugh maker in the history of New Zealand. I do not say that at all in a belittling way. I say it with all the tribute one humorist can say to another. “In fact, if I were in Mr Savage’s position I would create a Minister of Humour, to cultivate good cheer from every angle. Take marriage—there should he a test of humour before that step is taken. If one of the parties has a sense of humour, that is well; if both lack it, they are heading for the divorce court. “They will be unable to make their compromises cheerfully and, after all. that is the story of success and failure all though life —your ability to make compromises with a grin, instead of a groan.

Humour was embittered in European countries where dictators ruled A man who had a capacity for laughing at himself could not possibly become a dic- , t'ator. Italy was putting bayonets instead of violin bows into the hands of her boys. China’s remarkable philosophical sense of humour should be one of her strongest weapons against Japan.