Murder Will Out!—It Has In Wellington...

Radio Record, 19 June 1936, Page 5

Murder Will Out!—It Has

In Wellington...

bu

Stuart

Perry

ceived the idea of Authors’ Week, had another inspiration a week or so ago, and the consequence was a meeting of some of Wellington’s most prominent writers at his home, where, in an atmosphere of tobacco smoke, good fellowship and keen criticism, the idea was thrashed out and approved. Following English precedent, some Australian authors recently M* PAT LAWLOR, in whose fertile brain was con-

produced a crime novel entitled, "Murder Pie,’’ a chapter written by each author. The whole was a convincing and popular book. And now Wellington is to have one \. such-and, if one may anticipate or a moment simply because the nformation is too good to keep entirely to the end-not only one such, but two such-the second being of a very different character, Of the second novel, more anon. The first was’ the prime care of the meeting. Looking round the table from my left, I decided that Mr. Lawlor had chosen a wellassorted group of writers-almost every phase of literature was represented, yet there was not a man present who had not the ability to tackle the compact complexities of a mystery story. Mr. Lawlor outlined the procedure, The first chapter would be dhosen by ballot from among

several already written. Then a further ballot would be taken to see who would take up the thread of the story, who would then continue it, and so 6n. . On my left sits Mr. G. G, Stewart. Some of the readers of this journal, perhaps most, may have noticed the tremendous advance in advertising technique recently displayed by the Railways Depart-

ment. Mr. Stewart has been responsible, and in his spare time edits ‘the New Zealand Railways Magazine. He is one of the humorists of the group. Next to. him sits a man whose name is well known. He has mastered the difficult art of becoming a successful columnist. His name is Leo Fanning; and he can condense. Next is Mr. C. A. Marris, whose work with New Zealand poetry, drama and artistic literature is as well known as his career on the Christchurch "Sun" and the "New Zealand Times." His prose style ranges at will from the ridiculous to the distinguished, -and he should feel competent in any company. Suitably enough, his next door neighbour in Mr. Lawlor’s booklined study is another dramatic editorand a producer and novelist TST ST STs iLL

into the bargain: Mr. Victor S. Lloyd. Notice the sheets of foolscap protruding from his: coat pocket. You will hear more of them later. Directly opposite me is the sole practising barrister of the company-though three of us were trained to the lawa writer on matters military and legal, Mr. C. A, L. Treadwell. As chairman of the National Executive of New Zealand Authors’ Week: he was

very much in the public eye a ‘month or so ago. Then three of the younger bri-gade-Mr. Exic Bradwell, the dramatist, whose play "Clay" was produced so spectacularly in Wellington some weeks ago, and who admits to have in preparation a novel about a bookshop and the human nature encountered there, to be called "Will There Be Anything Further, Please?" Mr. Bradwell has a genius for titles. Lighter touches, and perhaps the more scintillating patches of the novel should be supplied by Mr. Redmond Phillips, the author of the Victoria College extrava-ganzas-and the "leading lady" in most of them. The dramatic element is strongly represented, One away on my right is Mr. J. Wilson Hogg. Like Mr. Lloyd, he has the distinction of having

. had his first novel accepted by an English publisher. "Snow Man," a novel of the drug traffic, is still selling well, and Mr. Hogg expects to have his, next book finally completed early next year. Then, last of those actually present, our host, Mr. Pat Lawlor. The idea is his, as the idea of a New Zealand centre of the P.E.N. (most of us are members) was his. His chair tilted back, a cigar-

ette drooping from his lips, a broad grin on his face and a glass in his hand, he laughs first at the jokes, shudders first at the grisly passages as each man reads out his chapter; and is obviously enjoying himself hugely. So far nine, and myself, ten. But there are four others, who through illness or absence from Wellington (no less excuse was proffered by any) are not here. And they are all worthwhile writers. No. I: Mr, O. N. Gillespie, one of our foremost poets, and our only short story anthologist. There is no realm of writing to which he is a stranger, no branch of literature with which he is unfamiliar. He has one canon which might be held before the eyes of every aspirant for fame in letters-literature must be (Continued on page 8) See SHUT ett

NEXT week’s signed article has been written by Mr, Gordon Mirams, M.A., Dip.Journ. It concerns the progress of the cinema from 1896 up to the production. of "Things to Come," the H. G. Wells masterpiece, and the only film ever.to be mentioned in the House of Commons.

Introducing . . . | CHARLES STUART PERRY. assistant

Librarian at the Central. Library, Wellington, and eldest son of Canon Charles Perry, of Ohvristchurch. Mr. Perry is the author of "The _Litany of Beauty," was the chairman of the Hahibition Commitiee of Authors’ Week, and is a nenhew of Hugh Me-

Crce, the aell-Inzowm Australian writer.

Murder Will Out!

(Continued from page 5.) in letters-literature must. ‘be life--otherwise it is prosaic or meretricious. No, 2: Mr, Alan Mulgan, who hag oniy recently become a Wellingtonian, novelist, poet, dramatist, columnist, editor -he has done almost every: job in the literary world with equal competerere, and his prose is informed with uniform | distinction. Like Mr. Gillespie, but in an entirely different way, a craftsman. Another big figure is No. 8 of our absentees, Mr. James Cowan, the historian and story teller of Maori tales. If any of us has any elaim to the consideration of posterity in this country,

it is Mr. Cowan. But he igs not-too dignified to join in a lark ofthis nature. O dear no; he couldn’t come; so he sent a chapter. And fast of all, but a man of varied falent, Mr. Sidney Jenkinson, an au- ° thority. on verse and a contributor to the old "Triad." The last chapter, when we came to the ballot, fell to his pen, and there wasn’t a man in the room who wasn’t content. ‘Space prevents my summarising the chapters which were read out, One or two were brilliant, but the popular vote was overwlelmingly in favour ‘of Mr. Lloyd’s chapter----a mere mise-en-scené, but full of tension and dramatic force. Myr. Bradwell’s chapter also deserves mention at least-the story of a barrister murdered in a box at the opera. From month to month each writer will add a chapter to the snowball, Mr. Mulgan already has the manuscript to udd chapter II to Mr. Lloyd’s chapter I. But the mecting went on for a little longer, and one suggestion-I wish I knew whose-was adopted and acclaimed . Mr. Stewart had submitted three chapters to the vote, and one was a nonsense novel in which the victim could have died in any one of thirteen ways. Fach month.one of the group. is to write his solution to. the problem taking each a different method of murder. ; i