BOOKS REVIEWED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 49, 20 May 1927, Page 10

BOOKS REVIEWED

SIR JOYNTON SMITH Christened plain James John Smith, the author of “My Life Story” in his early thirties “became romantically attached to the name of Joynton,” and he now has the right to prefix that name with a title. Sir Joynton Smith, newspaper magnate in Australia, has written an autobiography, and is giving the proceeds of its sale to the Royal South Sydney Hospital. Romance has figured largely in the life of the former James John Smith. Running away to sea, he one day found himself bound for New Zealand as third cook on the saucy ship Christian McAusland, headed for Port Chalmers. In New Zealand he was in turn messroom steward, chief steward, hotel owner, and secretary of a union. Sighing for wider fields for his activities, he crossed to Australia, where he became a singer of comic songs, picture theatre proprietor, promoter of an electric light business, manager for a billiards champion, proprietor of a racehorse, a political candidate, an alderman, and finally Lord Mayor of Sydney. Dick Whittington had nothing on Sir Joynton! In recent years this versatile man has founded and conducted two newspapers, “Smith’s Weekly” and the “Daily Guardian,” of Sydney. % He has many interesting things to say of New Zealand and New Zealand personalities. There are indications, for instance, that he is not enamoured of Dunedin, of which he writes: Tf anything-, the natural thriftiness of the Scot has been increased by transportation to the bleak end of New Zealand. No beggar can live there. If he asked for saxpence he would die of pneumonia from the chilly reception of his request. Fortunately I got away for half a crown, which I paid to Skeene’s Labour Agency, for a job that took me back to Port Chalmers. Sir Joynton’s reminiscences are racy and interesting. He is a shrewd observer of the ways of men—doubtless this accounts for much of his success—and he has successfully recorded, in tabloid form, the story of a life every minute of which has been lived to the full. “My Life Stoi'y,” Cornstalk Publishing Co. Our copy comes direct from the publishers, Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Castlereagh Street, Sydney. This Restless Age This restless age has certainly produced the restless novel. When mothers will have violent love affairs at the age when they also have marriageable daughters, how could

require any great mental application to enjoy. Her heroine, Helen Chesney, attractive war widow, meets the one man of her life just as her restless daughter imagines she has made the same discovery. Mother disapproves of clandestine meetings in bachelor flats, crumpled ball-frocks at 2 a.m., and other modern signs. She compromises with her daughter and offers to sacrifice her own happiness if the child will give up a philandering lover. The agreement is made, but happiness does not come to either woman for at least another 250 pages. Miss Wheatley has the ability to write a good quiet-evening-before-the-fire novel. “The Happy Medium.” Our copy comes direct from the publishers, Methuen and Co., Ltd., London.