HUMOUR IN POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 6

HUMOUR IN POLITICS

MINHINNICK CARTOONS

For several years past the cartoons of Mr. G. E. Minhinnick, appearing in the "New Zealand Herald" and the "Evening Post," have Happily hit off various phases and situations in the social and: political life of the Dominion and contributed to the enterI tainment of the nation. So i excellent have tijey. been in almost .every essential quality of the ■'■-* ireal cartoonist, huifnpUr, and," point, to the encl that "every picture tells a story,", that readers will often have felt a desire- that the cartoons might be preserved iii a more or less permanent form as.a record of the times for the refreshment of memory, the renewal of pleasure, and the edification of posterity*. Collections of Minhinnick's work have been published in the past, and Messrs. Wilson and Horton, Lttd., have now issued a new selection of the Minhinnick series under the title of "Minhinnick •• Cartoons, 1938." This yea? marks a high level in the political cartoon in New Zealand and, recalls the best years of the once famous Hiscocks, whose cartoons were a joy in the first decade of the century. Like his predecessor, Minhinnick is a cartoonist of notable individuality. There is no mistaking his methods and their results. His figures need no labelling. Here is the simple, patient John Citizen, a creation of the cartoonist, the plaything of economics and politics, but popping up like the people he incarnates cheerfully at the end of it all. Then there is the irrepressible Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues, the Leader and principal members of the Opposition, all catching the eye at a glance and creating a theme that needs no long explanatory caption.. la no cartoon is there - malice or bitterness; just a delightful humour that is quite as telling and leaves no scars.

No two people - will possibly have the same preference for favourite cartoons. Some will like best the series of "Political Empire Games," with the first especially, "Tug of War." Others might. choose "Art for Art's Sake" (after Botticelli), in response to Mr. Savage's dictum: "I don't see much art in cartoons." Then there is Mr. Savage as Hamlet and Mr. Nash as Ophelia in the soliloquy on the-guar-anteed price "2d or not 2d," under the title "Guaranteed Shakespeare." "Uncertain Ground" is a home-thrust of serious intent on the social security scheme, which will appeal to many. In addition to the main cartoons there is a selection of the smaller and equally popular series of scenes in the life of -John Citizen.