SUNTANNED AND CAREFREE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 933, 28 June 1957, Page 11

SUNTANNED AND CAREFREE

Sir,-I was most intrigued by the editorial "Suntanned and Carefree" in your issue of June 7. It so happens that a copy of the November, 1956, issue of Réalités came into my hands from Beattice Ashton, who now lives in San Francisco. I admired the photographs, and read the text with mounting fury. On the same evening I attended a concert by the Parrenin Quartet at Victoria University College. It proved to be the finest quartet playing I had ever heard. They offered an austere programme which included a Haydn Quartet, the fifth Bartok, and’ Berg’s Lyric Suite. The audience sat in rapt absorption throughout. The next day I despatched a threepage letter to the Editor of Réalités,

fulminating against the "clichés irrésponsables," pointing out that "la vie intellectuelle" of this country was quite as lively as in other countries, if less highly organised, and that their celebrated quartet could hardly expect more attentive treatment in Paris itself. I gave a brief digest of operatic, theatrical and musical activities in Wellington over the past year, which, assembled, looked quite impressive. The article was entitled "Les Robinsons du Pacifique." I gave it to a lady to read, and she returned it with these words: "Thank you: very illuminating. And now, if you will excuse me, Miss Robinson is going out to shoot her lunch." This looked hilarious translated into French, so I ended my letter with it. It will be interesting to see if the Editor of Réalités is responsive. However, I have fired my little pistol, hoisted my tiny flag, and with your editorial so admirably expressing my point of view, am content,

BRUCE

MASON

(Wellington).