PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 4

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

The Christmas Annuals The—Chrietmae number of the Weekly News, of Auckland, reveals in some 70 pages the profusion and variety of the scenic charm possessed by the .Dominion. A number of the photographs are tinted, and. include studies ,of the Southern Lakes, ■ angling scenes in north and south, several excellent yachting studies, and ■pictures of Native life. The cover illustration is of a youpg New Zealander, her arms full of red pohutukawa blossoms, arid the coloured supplement shows groups of nine New Zealand birds. An impressive: photographic study is that of the batque Pamir,' taken when she wa« in full sail off the New Zealand coast. New Zealand Illustrated, published .by the Christchurch Press Company, contains a . smaller selection of illustrations ■■than ..most.of the Christmas numbers, but in • this annual the standard of photographic study from the illustrations are reproduced is uniformly high. George Chance, W.. S. Baverstock, and others known in the world of art, have contributed to the issue, which depicts scenes of pastoral beauty, views of the mountain and lake country, and a page devoted to sports. The annual has a cover in colour and a coloured supplement, “ The ' Arrival of Captain Cook at the South Island, 1770,” by R. Wallwork, A.R.C.A. The amount of editorial work entailed in the compilation of such a publication as Tui’s Annual, which consists entirely of original work contributed by New Zealand writers and artists, can best be appreciated by those with some experience of the arduous task of judging stories and poems. But Tui’s Annual will impress almost equally the uninitiated, who might well marvel at the amount of literary activity of which this 150-page publication is a token. Most of the betterknown . New Zealand writers are represented, by one of more contributions, and many country folk have contributed, who might have been expected to have small time for artistic activity. The annual has an interesting camera supplement. New Zealand is the title of the Christmas number of the Traveller, issued by the Commercial Travellers _ and Warehousemen’s Association, which contains striking, well-reproduced photographic studies of tourist resorts, sporting and industrial activities, and interesting topographical features throughout New Zealand. The publication prints an article by James Cowan, and various reviews of New Zealand pursuits from racing to secondary manufactures. A useful feature is a table of New Zealand industrial statistics. The New Zealand Tablet’s Christinas issue makes its appeal equally to the overseas reader and the New Zealander. Photo-

graphic illustrations depicting the beauty spots of the Dominion and abort stories and articles of secular interest by New Zealand writers, are interspersed with poems, pictures, and stories with a devput application to the significance of Christmastide. The issue is of generous size.

International In “ The Problem of International Propaganda,” Ivy Lee, American publicity man extraordinary, has collected some ot his thoughts on the delicate question ot how the nations may interpret themselves to one another “ in a manner which will command a hearing, with some prospect that that which is good in its national policies will, survive exposure to the blazing light of world opinion.” Mr Lee hag had, perhaps, more experience than most statesmen in the subtle work of forming international opinion, and his survey is interesting for its optimistic view of the trend ot international relations, and the suggestions made for furthering understanding. He believes that foreign newspaper advertising might be used with good effect by a nation which considers itself” misrepresented, and he commends such straightforward statements as the last British Note to the United States on the subject of war debts. Clear and simple phrasing would obviate a great deal of confusion and misinterpretation of such issues. An interesting view of the industrial cities of England as a German sees them is contained in one of the translated articles in the September-October issue of World, the new review of current affairs edited by Vernon Bartlett. The writer sees the British cities sunken in misery, their problems “ too extensive and too deep-rooted to be anything but hopeless.” Other articles combed from- the press of the world concern the Saar, the Australian aboriginals, German air development, and English politics as they are understood by the Viennese.

New Zealand Verse The editor of that nicely-produced and ever-striving little poetry monthly, New Zealand Verse, announces in the September issue that four pages are to be added to accommodate the increased number of poems received which are considered worthy of publication. The verse continues to represent in the main that type of young writer who, in the words of the editor, “ have a song in their souls.” The songs are not always particularly tuneful or worth singing, and there is at least one long and singularly feeble effort in this issue. Those who cultivate the poetic medium should remember that, no matter how strident the soul-urge, or physical impulse, or whatever it is that makes them wish to burst into song and print, any emanation which could rightly be described as verse must be more than a stuttering jingle, expressing banalities in pedestrian or highly-emotionalised language. But while some of the verses range between the indifferent and the very poor, others have feeling and capable workmanship, and it is these that must be taken as earnest of what New Zealand Verse is doing, and what it may proceed more fully to accomplish, in-pro-viding writers with a platform. The Periodical*

Tlie acquisition by John Fairfax and Sons, proprietors of the Sydney Morning Herald, of the publications of Art in Australia, Ltd., is announced in the October issue of the Home. This is a special centenary number, containing splendidly-reproduced pictures of Melbourne past and present, and articles on aspects in the growth of the State. _ The usual features are contained, including a Women’s Supplement, society photographs and gossip, and views of beautiful Australian homes, Oliver Baldwin discusses the artistry of the Swedish film actress, Greta Garbo, in the September issue of the Royal Pictorial, which contains many photographs of Miss Garbo and other kmema personalities, and a selection of fiction. (Gordon and Gotch.) May Edginton, Barbara Hedworth and Vivien Bretherton are among the contributors of fiction to the September issue of the Novel Magazine, which is fully illustrated with line drawings. “Rescue,” a long story by James B. Hendryx, and "Isle of Vanishing Men,” by Jack Hulick, are the principal fiction contributions to the current issue of Short Stories. The early September issue of West has a lively selection of stories, and an account of the work of Hendry Brown, marshal .of Caldwell, in taming “wild towns.” Miscellaneous The first issue of the Australian Composer and Writers’ Monthly since it has incorporated the New Zealand Writer and Dramatist contains a newsy selection of articles and notes on artistic activity in the sister dominions. The editorial claim that “we are now very near to controlling' Art in two great countries” is, however, too extravagant to arouse any response but mild amusement. The question “What is a Trustee Investment? ” is asked and briefly but comprehensively answered in a_ new booklet issued by Jobson’s Publications, Ltd., of Sydney. * The information covers the subject generally, and, in summarises particular rulings as applying to the Australian States and New Zealand.