A New Zealander in Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 8

A New Zealander in Sydney Town

TUB SUN’S Sydney Correspondent SYDNEY, May 23. Norman Lindsay’s Novel Banned The decision of the Acting-Minister of Customs (Mr. Forde) to ban “Redheap.” Norman Lindsay’s novel of life in a Victorian mining village, caused no surprise. What was surprising, however, was the period of time that the Minister took to arrive at. this decision. An enterprising journalist at Canberra the other day published a diary in which Mr. Forde's remarks were recorded from day to day. For instance, he would inform members of the Federal House that the matter was “still under consideration.” The next day the Minister (who is young and should, be sufficiently broad-minded to keep abreast of the times in the matter of literary censorship), was “still reading the book.” The next day he would be conferring with the officials of his department. And so on. Until a weary public, albeit a curious one, really began to wonder what Mr. Forde intended to do. Testimonial Benefit for Muriel Starr Fellow-artists intend banding together to assist Muriel Starr, who since her bankruptcy proceedings, is anxious to return to her native United States. Edith Taliaferro, also Gladys Moncrieff and her “Maid of the Mountains” company, and the members of the new “Love Lies” company, will all assist. Strangely enough, every day for weeks past a parcel of groceries has arrived at Miss Starr’s fiat. The giver is unknown. However, a man informed the landlady of the actress that he knew Muriel Starr in the days of her prosperity and always appreciated her work. He preferred that the donor of this muchappreciated gift should remain anonymous. Curiously enough, the recipient has been filling in her spare time at the talkies, despite the fact that they emptied her own theatres! Beethoven’s Only Opera A production of “Fidelio,” the only opera that Beethoven ever wrote, is so exceedingly rare nowadays, either here or abroad, that its presentation is an event of considerable musical importance. “Fidelio” was rather a difficult task for the Sydney Conservatorium. After hearing what was really an exceedingly creditable performance this week one could understand why the opera is so seldom produced. For such a score a cast of highly-trained and talented performers is essential. Nevertheless, Sydney, or rather musical Sydney, is under a debt of gratitude to Dr. Arundel Orchard and Miss Daphne Deane for their work. It has been well said that in the “Ninth Symphony” and in “Fidelio,” Beethoven’s ideals of art found their highest expression. Quite unknown to the large audience in the Conservatorium Hall was the unobtrusive entrance after the curtain had risen of Wilhelm Backhaus. The great German pianist, whose Sydney season lias been most successful, is one of the most noted living exponents of the works of Beethoven. Lodge Seeking a Tenant The Prime Minister’s lodge at Canberra, which was furnished at such expense during the regime of Mr. Bruce, is still tenantless. Mr. Sculiin declined to live there. This white elephant, which costs the. Commonwealth £26 weekly, is occupied only by a caretaker. For a time it was thought that the Labour Prime Minister would tire of hotel life, but such has not been the case. He is no more anxious to occupy the Prime Minister’s lodge than ever. Meanwhile, the luxuriously equipped building remains tenantless, despite the Commonwealth Government’s assurance that “no reasonable offer” will be refused for its possession. Pony Racing on Week Days The attention of the State Government has been drawn to the prevalence of pony racing, which is carried on so extensively in New South Wales on week days. It is by no means infrequent for the first race to commence before noon at some meetings. The Premier, Mr. Bavin, says the Government, in view of the financial depression from which the whole of Australia is suffering at the moment, will consider the possibility of restricting the number of pony race meetings. To a deputation today Mr. Bavin said that he would not legalise starting price betting—despite the temptation such a course would offer of bringing additional revenue into the sadly depleted coffers of the Treasury. Sir Joseph Ward’s Retirement It was rather curious to note that the retirement of Sir Joseph Ward from the New Zealand Premiership, after a notable political career, passed almost unnoticed by the Press of Sydney. New Zealand politics, we all realise, have little interest for Australian - newspapers. But the retirement of one of the elder statesmen of the Empire, a man who in his time exhibited unrivalled Imperial vision, and did much to make New Zealand a voice in Empire councils, did not call forth any editorial comment whatsoever. Yet the Australian newspapers all published the brief, cabled eulogy of Sir Joseph’s services by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and editorial references from London journals. I don’t suppose that any New Zealand Minister is better known in Australia than Sir Joseph Ward, who, after all, is an Australian born. For many years he has passed to and fro between the Australian States and the Dominion. During his retirement from Parliament the former Prime Minister spent weeks at a time, during the winter months, in Sydney. Caricaturist’s Sad Death Cecil Hartt, one of the ablest black and white artists on “Smith’s Newspapers,” was found dead near Moruya, on the South Coast, this week. It Is pathetic to think that Hartt, who gave so much pleasure to others, should have ended his life in this manner. His work found favour in Sydney in the early part of the war, many the “Bulletin” before he enlisted and talion. His book of Digger “Humorosities.” published in London in 1918, was extremely popular. Of recent years Cecil Hartt found a wide and appreciative public, particularly for his war caricatures, through the medium of "Smith's.” To Attend Science Congress Dr. Raymond Firth, formerly of Auckland and now lecturer in anthropology at the University of Sydney, will leave next week with the Sydney delegation to attend the Brisbane meeting of the Australasian section of the Association for the Advancemeat of Science. ERIC RAMSDEN.