New Zealand Authors’ Week.

New Zealand Authors' Week, so brilliantly organised, is just over. Never in the history of New Zealand have New Zealand books and the literary activities of New Zealand, from the creation of the authors' thought to the finished product in book form, been brought so forcibly and so appealingly before our reading public. I do not propose to hark back on the details of the elaborate programmes so faithfully and strikingly presented. There is sufficient evidence to be found in the columns of the daily press. I am here to discuss, not the past, but the future. It is strikingly evident that Authors’ Week has re-awakened the New Zealand public to the fact that they need not, as in the past, rely entirely on the overseas literary product. The most practical result of the week has been the increase in the sale of New Zealand books, and this will continue, for the public, having tasted of its own country's wares, will, because it is satisfied, with its appealing quality, continue to buy.

But will the output be equal to the demand? To a certain extent it will, for, apart from the numerous books published, in the spirit of optimism

An Interesting bookplate drawn for himself by Frank Cooze, of Wellington.

that for months presaged the big'week, writers have been further inspired, and already they are busy producing for the re-awakened market. I hear of several new novels, numerous projected books of verse, and at least two anthologies on the way.

The abiding incentive for future endeavour is the magnificent publication that embraces in bioliographic detail, article and verse, the story of New Zealand literature up till April, 1936. This publication is already under order by the leading libraries of the world. When April, 1937, comes along there should be a still more inspiring story to tell.

The, March issue of “Art in New Zealand” features the work of Sydney L. Thompson, one of our most distinguished painters. Two colour plates and four reproductions of his work in black and white are supported by a well written survey by James Shelley. Mr. C. A. Marris, the editor, gives helpful criticism in announcing the result of the quarterly's short story competition, which was won by Mrs. E. D. M. Doust. Tom Mills, close friend of the late Dave Souter, writes interestingly on Souter's book-plates with illustrations of his work. Poems by “Robin Hyde” and Peter Middleton are among other features of this attractive issue, I hope the inspiration of Authors’ Week will move more New Zealand literary and art enthusiasts to support this excellent: magazine.

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We in New Zealand must be proud of C. R. Allen because of his latest novel, “A Poor Scholar.” He has in the past done fine work as a poet, novelist and essayist, but nothing so sincere, so living as this novel. It has all the ingredients—style, plot, truth and interest. He has taken a poor lad from the rather drab home of his parents and converted him into a Rhodes scholar and knighted him, and, he has done it convincingly. I feel that I know Frederick Lawrence (“Ponto”) as a friend, and every reader of this charming book will feel page 56 the same. Although I have been to Dunedin many times, I am now looking forward to my next visit just to see it as C. R. Allen has in this story. There is an H. G. Wells’ touch about the characterisations of the various people (I speak of Wells of the “Kipps” and “Mr. Polly” period); there is the philosophy of—well, the charming philosophy of C.R.A. himself; there are vivid sentences worthy of a Leonard Merrick. Of all New Zealand novels there is not one I would have wished to have written more than “A Poor Scholar.”

The story is simple—the development from poverty of a Rhodes scholar, the story of his boyhood, his manhood, of his loves and his triumphs. And without any effort Mr. Allen has made it so redolent of New Zealand.

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