RATIONAL MEN, IRRATIONAL ACTION
AN ESSAY ON RACIAL TENSION, by Philip Mason; Royal Institute of Internal Affairs, English price 8/6. ‘THis is a helpful and ruminative book, humane and gently probing. Its manner is that of a wise elderly family doctor who is confronted by the "fact that a virulent disease hitherto known on a small scale, is now threatening to devastate vast neighbouring areas. at The core of the essay concerns South Africa where the immediate problem is most critical. It becomes easier as one reads to understand the present impasse, and easier to sympathise with the fear that drives rational men to irrational action. At this stage of his inquiry, however, Mr. Mason repudiates any attenipt to find, or even to hint at, remedies. His very modest hope is that "more knowledge, based on detailed study, may help," and at the close of a calm and shrewd analysis offers a practical pro-
gramme of research by which "more knowledge" could be accumulated. The book shows how cultured Englishmen think about a fiery problem. It shows that even when viewed with limitless determination to be fair, no form of apartheid likely to be practical politics holds much promise of future goodwill. One hoves that Mr. Mason’s faith in the healing qualities of knowledge will prove justified, and that the furies will hold their hands while the research
is completed.
F. L. W.
Wood
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 823, 6 May 1955, Page 14
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234RATIONAL MEN, IRRATIONAL ACTION New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 823, 6 May 1955, Page 14
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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