is equally demolished. At the climax of the story, at the moment of collision, all that is sheared off and the real people underneath are shown up. The writing is exact and economical. The conversation is alive…. ‘You must be using a front end loader to fill your bank with money, man.’ ‘I've got no money.’ ‘How for you getting TV then?’ ‘It will be very nice to look at until the Pakeha come to take it back.’ The imagery is profuse and so pungent that after putting the book down, my head was spinning with colours, smells, sounds and pictures even though the novel is only a little longer than some short stories. There is a good sprinkling of Maori words and phrases throughout the conversation and a glossary might be of help to overseas readers and non-Maori-speaking New Zealanders who lamentably do not own a Maori dictionary, or unfortunately have no Maori friends from whom they would hear these terms. My sole criticism is that towards the end of the book the pungency of the imagery and the symbolism may be a little overwhelming — it might be poured on a bit thick — but the shortness of the novel prevents the author from getting out of his depth in this respect. The moral of the story, if there is one, is that neither the Maori or Pakeha way of looking at things is better or worse than the other — just different. The book is exciting, carries a hefty thump and in parts is very funny. I could not put it down until I had finished reading it.

REED BOOKS

MAORI WOOD SCULPTURE Dr T. Barrow. Maori wood carvings and sculpture in collections all over the world described, documented and illustrated with photographs in colour and black-and-white. An important and beautiful book. $9.50

A DICTIONARY OF MAORI PLACE NAMES A. W. Reed. A paperback reprint of this popular little reference book that has been unavailable for some time. $1.00

MAORI LIFE AND CUSTOM W. J. Phillips. One of the best available surveys of all the old Maori activities, crafts, and rituals. Written by the late Ethnologist to the Dominion Museum, it is well illustrated throughout. A fresh reprint. $3.75

A MAORI COMMUNITY IN NORTHLAND Dr. P. W. Hohepa. A detailed study of the author's Maori community of Waima in the upper reaches of the Hokianga Harbour. This is a recommended text in all Anthropology and Maori Studies Departments. Limp covers. $1.95 ALSO FROM ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS Write for a free illustrated list of new books. A. H. & A. W. REED Box 6002, Wellington Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne