WRITERS AND ARTISTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 5

WRITERS AND ARTISTS.

RECEPTION TO MISS N. SCANLAN. HER WORK FOR NEW ZEALAND. Miss Nelle Scanlan, who arrived in Now Zealand from England by the Rangitane after an absence of some years, during which time she has been engaged in literary work and lias travelled extensively all over the world, was tire guest of honour at a reception held by the N.Z. Women Writers’ and Artists’ Society at the Reform Club, Wellington. Miss Scanlan was elected a vice-president of tire society at its inauguration earlier this year, and naturally its members were anxious to extend her a welcome upon her return to iter native land and offer their congratulations upon the success she has achieved. Upon her arrival Miss Scanlan was presented with a bouquet of deep cream I'oscs by little Betty Hunter, and welcomed by Miss. N. E. Goad, president

of the society. Miss Goad remarked that Miss Scanlan by her initiative, enterprise and pluck had made a success of one of the most difficult tasks in the world, authorship. Miss Goad referred lo Miss Scanlan's .journalistic work and said that her versatility was truly amazing, even for a journalist. Her earner as a novelist, Miss Load described as meteoric, for her three, novels seemed to have tumbled out of the English printing press in rapid succession. Without a doubt Miss Scanlan was doing splendid work for New Zealand literature. Professor Murphy, Mrs E. W. Kane, Dr. Seholefield, Mr 11. von llaast, Mr P. r.awlor, and Mr Johannes Anderson each added their welcome, and spoke appreciatively of Miss Scanlan’s achievements. Miss Scanlan, in replying, said that her welcome home had been truly wonderful and that slip was deeply grateful. She was delighted to return lo New Zealand, a country which 'hough small was intensely vital, and its prestige in the Empire was very high. Remarking that in the course of her five years’ absence she had visited no fewer than ?•'! countries, she said I lint, she had found lliat in every respect New Zealand was regarded as " first-class.” She emphasised her hope lliat, New Zealand would keep its standard high. “A small unit, if exclusive, can compete for recognition,” she said. She thought New Zealand was fortunate in its natural beauties, great, resources, and good conditions, and she said that ’the two further volumes of the “ Pencarrow Saga ” would bring the story up to the time in the near future when New Zealand emerged with (lie rest of the world from its present difficulties. Members and visitors then met and talked with Miss Scanlan, and before supper was served Miss Hilda Chudley sang “ All Night Under the Moon,” Miss Edith Ilind recited the love scene from “King Henry V," and Miss Pruo Lewis, accompanied by Miss Or mi Reid, played a violin solo, Rimsky-Korsa-kov’s “ Ilymn to the Sun.”