PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19531, 14 July 1925, Page 13

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

To the New Zealander who wishes to interest his friends overseas in this “Britain of the South,” and to impress them with its magnificent scenic attractions, its unrivalled opportunities for the sportsman, its progressiveness, and its prosperity, the volume “New Zealand To-day,” just issued from the printing presses of Messrs Coulls, Somerville, Wilkie, Ltd., Dunedin, can be commended as a medium the merits of which it would be difficult to surpass. As a sample of art printing it demonstrates that a very high standard has been attained in the dominion, and that Dunedin has kept pace with the best. Its 32fl pages comprise a comprehensive and convincing picture of the features and resources of New Zealand. The message is essentiaUy pictorial, the grandeur and beauty of the scenery, the scope and extent of the industries, and the fascinations of the sporting and outdoor life of the dominion being conveyed in an imposing array of effective illustrations. The letterpress supporting these has the merit of terseness, the information being set out in such a manner as to attract equally with the pictures. The advantage of the policy of brevity is that room has been found for reference to every conceivable aspect of interest to persons wishing to gain a comprehensive idea of New Zealand and the New Zealanders. Not the least interesting feature of the publication is the array of artistically designed advertisements, conveying as they do a striking impression of the industry and energy of the people. .New Zealand To-day” reflects great credit upon the printers, the publisher, Mr Vivian h. Page, and. the editor, Mr L. ,S. Fanning. It is understood that already the first edition has been almost absorbed. In pursuance of a forward movement by the Government of New Zealand m the matter of publicity, the Railways Deparb ment has issued a 24-page booklet designed to provide overseas people with an incentive to visit New Zealand and enjoy its equable climate and its manifold attractions. Between artistic covers in colours there is a collection of fine illustrations, accompanied by -a well-told narrative describing in detail the features depicted. The broadcasting of propaganda m so attractive a form cannot fail to be eileo--11 The quarterly survey of the politics of the British Commonwealth bound up m the Juno issue of “The Round Table is of the usual .thoughtful, comprehensive and informative character. The political situation in Ireland as the result °f elections in the north and the Free State is discussed. “The Indian Rural Problem, which has been claimed to be at the root of the political trouble, is dealt with by a practical agriculturist. In the article “Introspection in Industry, the writer welcomes a growing tendency amongst employers and employed in Great Britain to starch together for the causes of bad times. “Cologne, the Security Pact and the League” is the title of an article reviewing the fundamental conditions upon which European peace depends, and discussing the policy that Great Britain ought to adopt. Amongst. the contributions from the dominions is an. excellent article on the attitude of New Zealand towards the League of Nations, the Protocol, and the Imperial questions of consultation on. foreign affairs and contribution to the cost of defence. . , An appetising alternation of fiction ana fact is enclosed within the covers of ‘‘Chamber’s Journal” for June. Amongst the fiction is an instalment of the John Buchan serial “John Macnab: A Comedy for Poachers,“ “The Yellow Field. bjr G. Appleby Terrill, “Reversion to Type, by Brig.-Gen. C. Dalrymple Bruqe, etc. Leaving the fiction, one’s is attracted to anr article, “Art Astray, m which E. D. Cuming discusses various ways in which art has been prostituted down the ages. “The Passing of the Fleet” is in “Taffrail’s” beat style. Some travel notes on Fez (Morocco), an article on “Native Labour in the Malay States, a description of sugar making, and some notes on commercial travellers, under the title “Ambassadors of Commerce,’’ are amongst other interesting features. The Strand Magazine maintains in its June number its reputation for arresting fiction and excellent illustrations. C. E. Bechhofer Roberto, in “The Island Under Sea,” has contrived an unusual mystery story with an alluring theme framed more or less slenderly on a scientific basis. Arnold Bennett’s “The Umbrella,” E. Phillips Oppenheim’s third section of “Mr Billingham, the Marquis, and Madelon,” and John Russell’s “The Primitive” are stories that grip. ' Mr Jerome K. Jerome, continuing his “Confessions of a Humorist,” tells, amongst other things, that when he sot out to write the book that finally saw the light Of day aa “Three Men in a Boat,” he had no intention of writing a funny book —in fact, was unaware that he was a humorist. Amongst other features are Sir Landon Ronald’s “My Portrait Gallery,” with illustrations of Queen Alexandra, Sir Edward Elgar, Marie Corelli, Mark Hamboraxg, and others; and an autobiographical sketch of his youth by “The Gloomy Dean.” Congratulations to the New Zealand Free Lance upon the attainment of its silver jubilee. On July 7, 1900, the first number was published—l6_ pages, price 3d. The development of this weekly io indicated by the fact that the silver jubilee number, dated July 7, 1925, contains 48 pages, price Bd. In commemoration, a facsimile miniature copy of the first edition has been distributed with the jubilee number. The Free Lance has made a reputation for the cleverness of ite cartoons, and one of the interesting features of this jubilee number is the reproduction of a selection of these dealing with political events in the history of thd dominion and introducing some excellent sketches of Mr Seddon, Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and many others. A .fine portrait study of Mrs Kathleen Glondining and a sketch of Mr W. Paget Gale are features of interest to Dunedin. .. “Proportional Representation” has a familiar sound, but the average man has but a vague idea of what it means. To make the matter Main to the wayfaring man Mr P. J. O'Regan has published a book’let entitled “Effective Voting and Proportional Representation.” In dialogue form, the subject is discussed in such a manner as to relieve the reader of much of the doubt and difficulty under which h© has probably laboured. The exposition is luoicC and the pamphlet is altogether quite a helpful contribution to the discussion of a problem that has exercised the minds of legislators since 1859. The author, however, has not enhanced the value of his pamphlet by making it the vehicle of a violent political attack upon those not in agreement with him. “A Little Talk on Poultry,” published and distributed by the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. (Ltd.), is the medium of some useful hints to poultry raisers. Wo have received a oopv of The British Standard Exporter,” a publication designed to stimulate amongst overseas buyers an interest in British oopunodities. Acknowledgment is made of receipt of a copy of the June issue of the Otago Boys’ High School Magazine, the Now Zealand Journal of Agriculture for June,, and the March and April numbers of the Roadmaker. <