G.B.S. ENTERTAINS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 9 April 1934, Page 9

G.B.S. ENTERTAINS

IMPROMPTU LEVEE CHRISTCHURCH ’S WELCOME VARIED QUESTIONS ASKED (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Mr; Ot&orge Bernard Shaw entertained half a dozen reporters and as many listeners and spectators at an impromptu levee in . the lounge ot' the United Service Hotel for more than an hour after his arrival on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Shaw seemed to enjoy himself just as much as his audience. After'his arrival, he disappeared for an hour to rest, and then reappeared in the lounge. “Well, what do yon want me to talk about*” he asked, as lie approached the'group of reporters. “What is it to be to-day?” When the talk began, many others came to join the party of listeners and questions were tired at him from every direction. At once, some one asked him why he came to Christchurch. He throw back his head and* laughed. 1 * Christchurch claims to be the most intellectual city in New Zealand,” he said, “and I was most disappointed when the itinerary planned for me did not include it. However, the boat for Sunday night from Picton was suddenly changed to Saturday, so I decided to come to Christchurch. I am sorry I could not give you more notice, because, of course, you didn’t have a chance to put up all the necessary triumphal arches and decorations.” UNRIVALLED BUSH. An impressive voice from the nudience (Dr. H. T. J. Thacker’s) asked: “Do you know, sir, that we have a museum here and the largest moa skeleton in the world?” • Mi. Shaw, looking surprised, said: “Well, no I didn’t. I’m afraid 1 don't know what a moa is.” Dr. Thacker: It is’ the largest wingless bird in New Zealand, sir. Mr. Shaw: A wingless bird? But I don’t call a bird wingless unless it has wings. Wait a minute, though. It sounds rather like a politician to nie—one of those politicians who haven’t the slightest knowledge of politics. Another questioner asked Mr. Shaw if he knew anything about Spiritualism. “I know all about Spiritualism,” Mr. Shaw replied. “I-attended my firs! seance at the age of about six. Why, the first planchette board in Ireland was used in my parents ’ home in Dublin. The man who used to work it —it wrote very well for him — afterwards went to Australia —not voluntarily though.” The talk turned tq New Zealand scenery. “There’s one thing I noticed about you Now Zealanders,” said Mr. Shaw. “Wherever I go, people say to me that they must take me to sec New Zealand's last bit of original bush. 1 have driven through miles and miles of it since. I have been here, and eacli bit seems to be just as much the last and first and as original as the one before. I must say, though, that it is unlike any bush I have ever seen before. The ferns and other native plants make it delightful. But I don’t like your stumped paddocks. They look like the cld battlefields on the Western Front, with tree trunks all battered and smashed and burned by shells. The Government should compel the owners to take them out. No expense should be spared, for the sake of appearances.” N.Z. GIRLS PRAISED. A questioner asked what Mr. Shaw thought about vegetarianism. “Of course the difficulty is these sheep,” Mr. Shaw replied. “If only you would be content to take wool off them and leave 'them to bleat it would be quite) easy.■ “But you can’t eat wool, sir,” remarked an aggrieved voice, and Mr. Shaw joined in the laughter. “Have you enjoyed the very strong New Zealand limelight into which you have been thrust?” he was asked. “Oh, I’m uSed to it,” Mr. Shaw replied. ‘I don’t mind it. ’ ’ While he had.been talking, one of the group had boen making a pencil sketch of his head and shoulders and when the artist handed’if over to him, Mr. Shaw said, “Oh well, I suppose I’m like that. But. there was a time when artists could make me quite handsome.” Talking of caricaturists, Mr. Shaw told a story against himself about a New 2>eh land caricaturist now in London. ’ * . “Low did a caricature of me one day,” he said,.“and I thought it was nothing like me. I may say, 1 told him so. A few days later, I was at. a reception at Lady Axtor’s house and on entering a room full of people,‘ J saw a figure and, at once exclaimed to to myself*Now there is a chap who ' is exactly like Low’s study of me. ’ I went towards, the figure and found I.was walking up to a huge mirror? ” A questioner; “What do you think of New Zealand girls?” Mr. Shaw: Oh well, 1 'in too old to be a judge of that. J find them very good looking, indeed, better looking than the average English or Continental girl. They are happy and cheerful, too. That seems to bo characteristic of you New Zealanders. Even you reporters—who Heaven knows have not much reason to bo happy—look cdiccrful enough, and (this with a. smile) you all seem to lie quite sober, tool”,