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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 11. June 21, 1939

South Riding

page 3

South Riding.

Not having rend" the late Winifred [unclear: Holtby's] novel, "South Riding.' I am fearful lest the story should be as bad as that of the picture of the name name.

There is a mordern lord Of the manor, who looks like Bonk Scotney, He falls in love with a schoolmistress, but it doesn't net anywhere, because the 1. of the m. remains faithful to his wife, who is confined in a lunatic asylum. Then there is Councillor Huggins, a man of doubtful merit, who makes dirty deals with other unsavoury people. There is also an attractive and consumptive communist.

The 1. of the m. gets into a mess, partly owing to the machinations of another nasty man, Mr. Snalth, who is plotting to make a pile by buying the land of the 1. or the m. and selling it to the local Council for the furtherance of a housing scheme instituted by the consumptive communist. The 1. of the m, loses all his money, sella the manor house, and wanders off pitifully into the woods to end it all. Hut the schoolmistress. In the usual nick of time, saves him from this unfortunate fate, and his wife does a remarkable tele pathic stunt in the asylum and perishes. The schoolmistress has overheard a sinister conversation between Mr. Hoggins and a woman with a baby, and tells the 1. of the m, all about it So together they go and extort the whole sad story from Mr. Huggins by using the third degree.

In a scene of great dramatic power in the Council Chambers, the 1. of the m. denounces Mr. Muggins, who admits all, has a lovely fight with Mr. Smith. and then collapses miserably. The 1. of the m. magnanimously gives his land to the Council If they'll pay off the mortgage, and gives the manor house as a sehoolhouse.

The play ends in an orgy or flag waving and patriotic rervour at the opening of the schoolhouse, and the whole cast, with chorus, sing "Land or Hope and Glory."

The consumptive communist was singing it louder than anybody.

—X.Y.Z.