A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 30

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

THE SUN'S Sydney Correspondent SYDNEY, February 23. New Literary Censorship After all, Norman Lindsay can well afford to' laugh. It certainly does seem rather silly to even contemplate banning “Redheap,” his new novel, a story of life in a small Victorian town. “Redheap” has been accepted by the English critics. It is also being published in the United States. Arbitrary proposals by a few casual Customs officials to dictate to a people the terms under which they will be allowed to acquire culture, he says with truth, only make a joke of serious values. Meanwhile, an expectant public is beiug told that the depa”tment. is considering the merits of Mr. Lindsay's book. Ridiculous. Norman Lindsay's New Novel ! There are copies of Mr. Lindsay's novel already in Sydney, just as is always the case with any banned, or rather, near-banned book. That is, of course, if one is prepared to pay the price. The "Sydney Morning Herald” devoted a, whole leader the other morning to "Redheap,” and went as far as to accuse Mr. Lindsay of having committed "literary matricide.” It would almost appear that the new Labour Government is the most prudish Australia has known for many years. “Venus and Adonis,” Hemingway’s splendid “Farewell to Arms," “All Quiet on the Western Front” (which assuredly preaches a moral even if critics quibble about its form), and Jean Devanny’s “The Butcher Shop,” have all come under the ban of late. Not that that matters materially. The other day I was offered a copy of “Ulysses” for a matter of £5. Having already read the Joyce work, which as everyone knows, was printed in Paris, declined. A literary censorship is bad from every point of view. It means mental stultification. It is stupid, ridiculous in the extreme. Backhaus on Beethoven Wilhelm Backhaus, the famous German pianist, has returned to Australia a self-confessed Beethoven fanatic. The expression is his own On the way out on the Ormonde be read Romain Holland's life of the master. Incidentally, Mr. Backhaus recommends it to all Beethoven students. Love for the music of Beethoven, he declares, is becoming more pronoenced every year on ail parts of the Continent. Last season he played the complete cycle ol' Beethoven sonatas iu Vienna, and repeated them with equal success later in the year in Paris. The pianist found the same enthusiasm for Beethoven in South America. For instance, he gave five recitals of his works in Buenos Aires alone. Lunch Hour Music Music-lovers iu the Dominion will remember Alexander Sverjensky, who first visited New Zealand as accompanist to the talented Lydia Lipkovska. Married to an Australian girl, he has been settled in Sydney for some years. Last year Mr. Sverjensky inaugurated a series of lunch-hour concerts, assisted by three brother musicians. The admission charge was small. The music was extremely good. Consequently, Mr. Sverjensky and his companions profited thereby. Needless to say, however, other musicians soon realised that there were still a few tired business men who could appreciate at least one movement of a Beethoven sonata during their luncheon hour, interspersed with interpretations from the “moderns.” Imitators soon arose. Nevertheless, Mr. Sverjensky’s supporters have been loyal to him. This is an innovation that possibly may appeal to some New Zealand musicians, particularly in these days of canned music. The habit of attending a mid day conceit once a week has certainly been acquired by Sydney-siders. “All Red” Footballers The All Blacks are familiar enough to us all. But who ever heard of the All Reds? The Communist Party in Sydney has inaugurated a “Workers’ Sports Club.” It proudly claims that it “is the first club definitely to break with the capitalistcontrolled sports movement.” This season the new club will play challenge matches, but the Communists propose to organise a competition of their own for next season. Labour's Easter Conference It was obvioud that the annual Easter conference, still in session, was dominated by the Lang-Gardert part, nership. It was likewise soon estab lished that the Theodore faction was not seeking a fight with the followers of Mr. Lang. Nevertheless, ■ perhaps Mr. Theodore is biding his time. it is certain that he is preserving his powder and shot. It is one of the tragedies of the Labour Party, at any rate iu Australia, that it is, sooner or later, dragged at the heels of a master strong enough to dominate it. Today Mr. Lang is the master. Tomorrow it may be Mr. Theodore. Democracy is a farce. Conferences are packed by the party “in ]x>wer.” The sensation of this conference, of course, is the dismissal from the office of organising secretary of Mr. A. J. Macpherson. Mr. Macphersou had had the audacity to criticise Mr. Lang. Mr. Lang determined that Mr. Macpherson’s head should fall. And, hey presto, off it went! However. Mr. Macpherson is a henchman of Mr. Theodore, and although the Federal Treasurer, ever a skilful general, avoided battle on this occasion for reasons best known to himself, the retreat was not sounded. The engagement must come. Mr. Lang candidly admits that he is opposed to the referendum proposals of the Scullin Government. The Labour movement, which, after, all, is very close to the great heart of the Australian people, and certainly produced some able men iu the past, has yet to learn a lesson. The washing of political dirty linen in public should at all costs be avoided. New Zealand Association Dr. Purdy resigned the presidency of the New Zealand Association during the week, and was succeeded by Mr. Noble F. Lowndes. The new office-bearers include: Vice-presi-dents, Dr. I-I. C. R. Darling and Dr. D. B. Loudon; committee, Messrs. H. L. S. Havyatt, A. J. Sutherland. G. Winder, E. Healey, E. A. Richards. A. Kilgour: and secretary. Mr. C. A Crockett. All preliminary expenses having been paid, it was decided to reduce the yearly subscription ERIC RAMSDEN.