“FORE AND AFT”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17949, 29 November 1932, Page 5

“FORE AND AFT”

A GOVERNOR RAKED TITLED WOMAN’S BOOK SYDNEY UNDER EIRE j - LONDON, Nov. 4. Lady Angela St. Clair-Erskine’s book, “Fore and Aft,” in which she accuses Sir Philip Game of making “extremely indiscreet” remarks and of showing “weakness, obstinacy, vacillation and conciliation to the point of servility,” in his relations with Air. Lang, has been recalled by the publishers. The manager of Jarrold’s said today that the suspension was only temporary as “it is desired to alter some things which really are very trivial, but which appear immensely important to some people.” Lady Angela, who spent two or three days in Sydney on her way from New Zealand to England, describes in her book how she dined at Government House, Sydney. Lady Angela declares that the Governor gavo her an impression of harassed uncertainty, but was nevertheless quite communicative. This is her account of the interview: — “He apparently enjoyed discussing the situation, and said that the de Givot incident was merely silly. “ ‘lt defeated the New Guard’s ends,” lie declared, ‘and was directed towards forcing me to dismiss Mr. Lang. Now I shall not do so.’ “If he talked in this manner to everyone,” continues Lady Erskine, “it is not surprising that he was called ‘Red Game.’ Nevertheless, the accusation was founded on flimsy grounds. ’ ’ ALL KNOW THEIR POLITICS. Lady Erskine was surprised (she says) to find intimate political details, of a kind usually restricted to inspired circles in England, discussed in every class of society in Australia. Lady Erskine prints Sir Philip Game’s letter of Alarch 26, 1931, to Air. Lang, and also his letter of December 16, 1930, asking Afr. Lang .to endorse Air. Bavin’s recommendation for Knighthoods for Air. Bali, ALL.A., Dr. Purser and Air. Thethowan, M.L.C. She adds that the letters indicate “that Sir Philip Game displayed a mixture of weakness, obstinacy, vacillation and conciliation to the point of servility; yet Air. Lang declared that his first action, if re-elected, would be to secure Sir Philip Game's dismissal. ’'

The Government House dinner is criticised as lacking the dignity observed in New Zealand. Social precedence. Lady Erskine says, was not observed. The men wore dinner jackets. Formalities were so mismanaged that she “shook hands with Lady Game, mistaking her for a lady-in-waiting. ’ ’ Apparently disappointed at not having been seated beside the Governor, the authoress comments on having “had to play boring games of bridge at two-pence a hundred.”

Lady St. Clair-Erskine, who is 56, was known to the public for many years as Lady Angela Forbes. She is a daughter of the fourth Earl of Eosslyn, a sister of the present ear!, and an aunt of the Duke of Sutherland. She married Lieut.-Colonel James Stewart Forbes in 1896, and divorced him in 1906. /She conducted a dressmaking establishment in tho West End for some years after the war, as Lady Angela Forbes. In 1930, she changed her name to St. Clair-Erskine. “ATROCIOUS” COMMENT IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, Nov .6. “Atrocious” was a comment made frequently to-day when leading Sydney women were asked to express their viows on the criticism of New South Wales and Government House contained in Lady St. Clair-Erskine’s book, “Fore and Aft.” Lady Erskine’s flying visit of three days to this State afforded scant opportunity for Sydney society women to meet her, but all arc unanimous in declaring that she displayed execrable taste in her references to the Governor (Sir Philip Game), who was her host.

“I am glad I did not meet her,” said Lady Julius, “because her remarks seem to be rather terrible.. They are typical of people who visit our country for a few days and could not acquire an accurate picture of our conditions.”

Mrs Muscio, the well-known feminist, was amused when informed of Lady Erskine’s ennui at having to play bridge at Government House for twopence a hundred. “I have played bridge with the Governor for nothing, and enjoyed it just as much,” said Mrs Muscio. “Lady Erskino’s remarks are in deplorable taste, and her published accounts of Sydney cannot be accepted as an authentic picture of our life.” One Sydney society woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, remembers the dinner at Government House attended by Lady Erskine. “She was very resentful because she was not placed on the Governor’s right hand, and more than one in her immediate vicinity were indignant at her remarks on local conditions.