BOOK REVIEWS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 6

BOOK REVIEWS

Autobiography Of A British Politician “So Far,” by W. J. Brown (Loudon: Allen and Unwin). According to the fashion of the times. Mr. Brown, a member of the British House of Commons, is at the age of 48 by no menus too ohl to present his autobiography, though it is to he hoped that he will carry the story further at a later date, if spare to continue his very active way of living. Let no one be deceived; by the look or this slim wartime volume into thinking that it represents a few hours of interesting entertainment only. Mr. Browns book is highly interesting, but it resolves itself into a closely-written study ot the whole political set-up in Britain today, for, as general secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Workers’ Association, the author has been intimately allied with all the movements of our time. ’bo fiatgoes back to Mr. Brown s childhood and shows the struggle with poverty which so many thousands of families waged. He was’ a scholarship boy and earned his education at Sandwich Grammar School. From the beginning, as opportunity offered, he read voraciously and with an exceedingly retentive mind. Entering the civil service as a boy clerk, he quickly showed himself most able at oragnizing his fellow workers into a body for their own protection. This, in fact, became and still is his life work. He has fought successive Governments relentlessly for better conditions for members of the civil service. Always he shows nunself aggressive and unyielding in what he considers to be matters of principle. He sets out very clearly the weakness of the Labour Party, of which he is an erstwhile member, and the Trades Union Congress. He points out the great danger of rule by party caucus and. indeed, left the Labour Party because he could not pledge himself, as members of the party must, to vote with the party against his own conscience. He also explains how a powerful trade union ceases to be a means to an end —the benefit of its members— and often becomes, for the members of the executive, the end in itself —the union must flourish even at the expense of its members’ interests. This political analysis applies just as aptly to New Zealand as to Britain and Alr.Browns contentions must prove very difficult .foi his opponents to answer. .In conclusion, Mr Brown gives his opinion of the way to peace. This also is worthy of earnest consideration. “So Far is exceedingly well written, as John Buchan, who wrote the preface though a political opponent of the author, testifies. „ . , “Running Water,” by E. A. Barton (London: Seeley Service). Dr. Barton is an angler of long experience and a recognized authority on the taking o trout. He is, in addition, a writer of very pleasant prose, so that the appeal of his book is not confined to the. fisherman. It is for anyone with an interest in the out-of-doors, the gentle, picturesque out-of-doors one associates with angling in England. Dr. Barton divides his book into three parts, narrative, informative and descriptive. In the narrative and descriptive sections he tells stories of his experiences during many years of angling in all sorts of conditions and the charm of the chalk-stream valleys to which he is so easily, lured, is well depicted. In the informative section will be found much to interest his fellowsportsmen, a chapter on the cause and cure of shyness in trout in particular. Dr. Barton’s photographs have illustrated many a fishing book and those, he has chosen for his own book are specially attr “Ann Veronica,” by H. G. Wells: “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,” ■by Mark Twain (London.: Dent). These are the latest additions to Everyman s Library The Mark Twain stories have an‘introduction by Christopher Morley. Mr. Wells’s novel has been out of print for some years.