A LITERARY CORNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10280, 15 May 1919, Page 2

A LITERARY CORNER

(RrA.L.) “THE CORAL'QUEEN.” (Sydney Book Club, Sydney.) The Coral Islands are' always waiting to throw their spells over us. But ihe . great majority of us never get within range. This writer solves our difficulty by bringing them ,to us. We feel the heat of the tropic sun, tcv jether with the charm of the shade of rreat leaved trees, w© revel in the col-i >ura of birds and fishes; and we enjoy Ihe travelling amongst original types iver the rough country behind thq white beaches under the palm trees’ facing quiet lagoons fenced from the icean by wave-swept rocks. Into this jetting she has woven a story which j roves, inter alia, that romance is not lead; that it ;even c?n seize upon the ' woman who becomes /rich and develops abnormal business talents under _ the ■ hardening pressure of- a great disappointment. suddenly inherits a, coral, island of fabulous wealth in coral and -pearl and becomes "The Coral Queen, d and as such Is known far _ and wide throughout tho Pacific regions. Here b a charming story of firm treatment, - with an exquisite ending. _"ME> HUGHES: A STUDY.” (Fisher Unwin, Ltd., 1, Adelphi ter* ... race, London, W.C.) The anonymous author is a powerful tfteraxy critic, Hia study of Mr Hughes (n Snglaud treats the Australian Prune Minister with’ biting analysis, and extends to hia’j environment with, illumm*ting effect.- This environment is detoribed by the critic as largely made up hf the profiteering interests. These, he - declares, regard the whole nation . bound’ to do their bidding, just as the Bolsheviks do in Russia. For that reason, ’ha dubs them “upper class Bolsheviks,” and predicts the ruin of the country in case of their success. The “Morning Post” is their prophet Andy Mr Hughes has become their ’ mouthpiece- • . ». Having prepared his batteries, thus, ■’the author opens fire on Mr Hughes ffom a” collection .of literary high explosives which, whatever effect they may have oh the feelings of tho target, make simulating reading. Prom a summary !of the general'effect of the book wo / 'quoco:— **■ Tile main work of- tlie T>ook, how- ~ - ©top, is to disentaßl© tho. .ecunomiQ , proposals of Air liiyrhes from Ids • declamation, and set forth their - actual bearing on industry and qolu- - Taorce. On analysis, they appear-to ■’ h©' either impossible or disastrous; y>r>d Mr Hughes is charged with lait- ’ in# to realise the very connection tween wax policy and economic upon which ho insists. Incidentally, ‘ his - plan as to raw materials is exhibited ;as hostile to the wool, ;producors of Australia, and hia doctrine of tariffs as deliberately proposing to • enable the protected manufacturers :,v;to sell dear at home in order to be , -T7 able . sell cheap abroad. , ,t

‘ The summary is clever, it k correct, the reader must determine for himself. -Wo can guarantee - that ha will enjoy the reading.'Subsequent events have thrown a suggestive lighten the position herein declared. ‘Whereas the situation .is bound round the peptral figure of the British Prime Minister working out the behests of a. capi■i balletic Press, selfish and reactionary, -the chief- of these subsequent .events-.,is thp .. decisive overthrow by Lloyd George' of his alleged masters' of-Nbh« Northcliffe Press. , ' ‘ ‘AG It IC UUT U RE.’ ’ s Pfadfield R‘. P Connell, ALA. fWhitcombe and Tombs, -Wellington.) Mr Connell is-the Agricultural lnrtructor under the Auckland Education JBpard; Mr Hadfield is the Agr ieultural instructor at' the Soddon Ms- . iowal .College, N.Z., and filled similar'position at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, N.S.W., of . which -institution he holds the diploma, -Between them they have . written this -.'‘Text Book for New Zealand Schools and Colleges.” It -;ia very thorough, - both on the practical’and the theoretical side, with illuminating'use of bot- ■ pay. phemistry, >nd, mechanical scijenwi . The, twenty-seven chapters are most instructive; there are 114 11- • lustrations to give useful help to the student, and there are a number ot practical exercises, and many, records of experimental and observational work. The. aim of the work, which supplies . a--Bong-felt want, is to help Vlay the foundation of an intelligent •* and broad grasp of the general principles of agricultural practice.” The matter ' will have to be supplemented by details of local conditions and prac- - tide-,,' ‘•TMb AUSTRALASIAN BOYS’ ANNUAL, 1919.” ■-{Cassell- and -Co.y London.) ’ If you want to become a boy again and revel in high thoughts and great - ieeds of honour and prowess, read this Annual. When you have thus enjoyed the stories ot the days of old when Knights were bold, and struck shrewd blows -only for righteousness, - you will turn with grateful eagerness -to the store of modem information abort guns, and tanka, and conjuring tricks, and a thousand things tnat give Joy of life. From that you will go Vfield to discover that cricket would bo Heaven if it was not for football and sculling. Need one say more ? A fine Annual, written, ably and beautifully illustrated.