SORT OF ROYAL PROGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1934, Page 9

SORT OF ROYAL PROGRESS

MR. SHAW IN NEW ZEALAND CONCLUSION OF VISIT TO ROTORUA PRAISE ACCORDED THE. DOMINION. FURTHER SHAVIANISMS UTTERED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Rotorua, Last Night. Mr. George Bernard Shaw, who has been visiting Rotorua in the past week, will leave on Wednesday for Wairakei and Taupo, proceeding thence to Wellington. During his stay Mr. Shaw refused to receive cards, telephone messages or callers, insisting that he must first be communicated with by letter. With Mrs. Shaw he visited the Six Lakes and the thermal areas at Whakarewarewa and Tikitere, and on Sunday paid a . flying visit to Tauranga. From comments made to friends and acquaintances Mr. Shaw is delighted with the reception given him in New Zealand and is very interested in what he has so far seen. He is an enthusiastic amateur photographer and on all trips he uses a small camera which he carries with him.

In an interview conducted by means of written questions he said that he was “having a sort of royal progress.” He had been overwhelmed with the hospitality, guidance and practical assistance, official and unofficial, from every quarter. He seemed to be the most popular stranger in the Southern Hemisphere and he had no idea that New Zealanders were such good Shavians. • Asked whether he thought world troubles would be cured by direct action, reaction or Parliamentary action, Mr.Shaw said: “The world’s troubles can be cured only by long and laboured social reconstruction by thinkers and workers religiously devoted to general welfare and ruthlessly intolerant of idleness and waste. The ways in which these workers will achieve the necessary conquest of political power will vary according to circumstances. Changes which have been made peacefully and reasonably in New Zealand have been made violently and even ferociously in other parts of the Empire. A uniform method for the world- is impossible.” Mr. Shaw also remarked that New. Zealand had already avoided some of the mistakes of the older countries but should not feel conceited about it.. “You will commit them all yet unless you watch and pray,” he said. .' He described Rotorua as. “an uncommonly pleasant place, although it smelled of brimstone like Hades.” He considered that it had many extraordinary natural curiosities to show instead of the manufactured attractions which were the stock in trade of most earthly paradises. Asked what he thought of the average New Zealander’s pronunciation of English speech, “but then it could'.hardly be' worse.” New Zealand voices were notably more pleasant than urban British ones, he added. Mr. Shaw said he doubted whether there would-be war within the next ten years. Modern methods of warfare made Napoleonic wars impossible. Asked why he selected New Zealand for a holiday Mr. Shaw replied: “Why shouldn't I? What is wrong with New Zealand?” CHRISTCHURCH BANS SHAW. ACTION OF RADIO INSPECTOR. , ■ Christchurch, March 26. Mr. Bernard Shaw has been ■ banned in Christchurch. Although his play “Androcles and The. Lion” was ■ broadcast from station 3ZM last evening, the reading of the epilogue to the play was banned by the district radio' inspector, who vetoed' it as controversial and contravening regulation 138. ■ ' “Mr. Shaw has been banned in Christchurch,” Dr. Birkenshaw, who took part in the broadcast, said' subsequently. “New Zealand is probably the only country in the’ Empire where he is not allowed the full use of the air.” Professor Pocock, another member of the cast for the broadcasting play, commented to-day: “Possibly the inspector was put up to it by Mr. Shaw, who, I understand, has not outgrown that sort of thing. I have no doubt that everybody’ is delighted, but 'it is all a little cheap and silly.”