SEEKING ODDITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1932, Page 8

SEEKING ODDITIES

BUSINESS ON HOLIDAY. A WORLD-WIDE traveller. By Telegraph—Per Press Association) , AUCKLAND, Eeb. 24. -Mr Robert L. Ripley, cartoonist writer and radio broadcaster, is a passenger on tiie Mariposa. Mr Ripley is the author of ••Relive It Or Not,” which is published in many countries, and he is travelling for the purpose of gaining impressions and matter for another series.

“I have gone abroad one or twice a year for the last IS years, and have visited 124 countries in that time, but Australia and New Zealand are quite new to me,” said Mr Ripley. ■‘Like most Americans, I known very little about both. I hope to come back to gain more information and see more of both countries. I am just travelling round and collecting strange things so that I can put them into black and white. ART AND BUSINESS. “Since 192!) J have travelled -30.000 miles through 39 different countries collecting 'Relieve It Or Not’ material, taxes, lawsuits and imitations. It is difficult to make a business man out of an artist. Artists are supposed to starve, I prefer the pangs of hunger to the pains of business- Being blessed with an indolent nature, I detest business and love travel. I shall always draw pictures, and hope before it is too late to see many more countries.” Asked about his rise to popularity, | Mr Ripley said: “The first book was a struggle, but l en/oyed writing the first one ever so much more than the second. Now I have neither time nor rest, nor peace. Instead of one secretary a dozen are necessary. A million letters a year pour into the studio. Now there are lectures, talking pictures, radio, vaudeville (although I promise myself never to do it again) to afflict me. MATE RIAL ‘ ‘ INEX H AUST’i RLE. ’ ’ “I make a talkie picture twice a week, and in order to keep up my cartoon connections I have to keep a small office going on this ship. I work regularly for several hours a day and when I arrive in Sydney 1 shall lie broadcasting from tiier<> to America. I hope then to tell the people of th P United States something of my travels down this way.” “Won’t you soon run out of material ?” .Mr Ripley was asked. “Run out of material? Never. Despite the incessant demands' from newspapers, ' motion pictures, broadcasts and my publishers, the supply of material retaining inexhaustible. Each day it becomes easier to obtain. This old world is a mighty interesting place.” This morning .Mr Ripley and his private secretary and a camera man left by special car for Waitomo Caves and Rotorua. They will return tomorrow evening, and leave by the Mariposa on Monday morning.