MR H. G. WELLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 March 1939, Page 10

MR H. G. WELLS

LECTURE TOUR IN DOMINION PROBABLE •United Pwhh A-social ion 1 WELLINGTON, 14th March. Thj famous author, Mr H. G. Wells, i? favourably disposed toward a lecture ! Icur of New Zealand during the cenlennial year, according to Mr D. O Con- 1 nor, who arrived at Wellington by the i Wanganella yesterday after managing, Mr Wells's lectures in Australia. Be- : lore his visit to Australia, Mr Wells had j not lectured before large audiences for years, and, said Mr O'Connor, "he was 1 as nervous and temperamental as a i pi'ima donna. I “You have to remember all the time , ; that he is over 70, and has a devil of, I a temper,” Mr O'Connor added. "But I I to do him justice he soon gets over it. j and is always charming in his apoloi gies. In fact, he tells you quite frankIly that he has a temper, so you know [ what is coming, and are prepared for I it. He had only been used to talking !to small select audiences or over the radio at Home, so it was small wonder he was afTected when he had to face the flood. But he was soon on terms v ith his audience. He has a rather, small, light voice, so we had to have! • m,pii tiers put in all round the hall. "He speaks quickly and marshals hL j arguments compactly. One has to keep! mentally alert to take in all he.says: but. on the other hand, he is still young J in mind, still a redundantly fresh ■ thinker, and still retains a cheerful I and optimistic outlook on life. Even : ' hen in a paddy he will flash back amazing answers to* questions. To lis-I ten to him is a mental exercise, for j he has the readiest mind I have ever encountered. It was his success in i Sydney that made him think kindly of j i tour of Now Zealand. Up till then he was not so keen, but when his lcctr res ended in cheers, and the flappers hung round to get his autograph lie I.ccame converted to the idea. I don’t know yet whether it will come ofT, but New Zealand is in for a treat if H.G. Wells comes along next year. "1 think the thing of which I am most proud in connection with H. G. Wells.” said Mr Connor, "is that I reconciled him and Mr W. M. Hughes, who fell out on a notable occasion years ago. I was instrumental in getting Mr Hughes to take the chair at the Sydney Town Hall, and now. I am pi eased to say. they are excellent friends.”