NEW BOOKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 514, 24 April 1933, Page 7

NEW BOOKS

THE CALL OF THE SOUTH.ERN CROSS. Among new publieations to hand is an interesting little volume entitled "The Call of the South'ern Cross," by an Indian writer, A. S. Wadia, M.A., Professor of English and History, late of Elphinstone Colfege, Bombay. The author has completed a tour of practically the whole world with a trip through, Australia and New Zealand. The hook is not of an analytical nature and touches but lightly upon politics or economic conditions. It is really a record of personal impressions gathered from visits to the principal cities and beauty spots of both' countries. Th'e tour commenced at Eremantle and was completed at Dunedin, and the author gives a( decidedly interesting account of the picture presented to him by our towns and country districts. Rotorua was included in the tour and Mr. Wadia pays special attention to the Government and private afforestation op.erations. After viewing the work accomplished he expresses surprise that the Government should have permitted "foreign capital to come inth the country and drain off the profits of its national resources. One of the standing arguments of the Indian Nationalists against British connection is England's systematic exploitation of the natural wealth and resources of India with British capital. Why then does your Government commit a similar folly?" He is interested from the j fact that much Indian capital is in- I vested in New Zealand afforestation. I The author also spealcs with much ap- j preciation of the Maori race aud ex- j presses surprise and pleasure at the { equality with the Europeans which the ; native race enjoys here. Our popular 1 Guide Rangi comes in for special mention. She not only showed the author over the wonders of Whaka, but took him to a dance at night and he declares that "so wonderfully well and light-footedly did she dance that I j could not bring myself to believe that ! this was the same Maori girl whom I j met but two hours ago in her primi- j tive skirt and bandeau of flax-fibre." He also declared that if Ana Hato's voice were trained for a couple of years in Paris or Milan "she would make a name for herself in th'e music world of Europe." The hook is full of these little personal touches of the tour, and while it carries no weight as an authentic review of national resources and political conditions, it is the story of a delightful journey revealing countless charms to an appreciative eye.