Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), Monday 8 April 1935, page 3


HALF-CASTE PROBLEM. ---x---Australian Novelist Interested. Basec New Story on Color Problem. At present the status of the col ored man in Australia is exciting a great deal of attention. Among the authorities on the subject is Wil liam Hatfield, the author and travel ler, whose years spent in Northern Australia have given him a more in timate personal knowledge of the half-caste problem than is possessed by most anthropologists. In his new novel, "Black Waterlily'," Hat field draws largely upon his exper iences to prove that the status of the half-caste depends entirely on the manner in which he is brought up and treated. In the story are two half-caste men, one of whom raises himself to the status of a white, while the other drifts back to savagery. The for mer is a composite portrait of many half-castes the author has known and with whom he has worked. "Jim Stein," says Hatfield, "has attributes you might find in men like Joe Craigie, who was head stockman at 'Glengyle,' out on the Georgina, in my time, a man accepted by all the fellows along the Queensland and Territory border as as white as them selves, or in Tommy Norman, who was head stockman at 'Durham Downs' on the Cooper, and Jimmy Stott, the buffalo-shooter on the Mary River, up on the edge of Arn heim land. Then there was Benny Hugh, manager of 'Godyer's La goon.,' and Harry Stott (Jim's bro ther), who used to manage 'Nut wood.' Splendid chaps ; white men pleased to work under them and give their best, realising all the time that it still felt it bit short of their capa-bilities of those unassuming fellows. "But, though they succeed in their sphere, there's a sadness, a wistful ness, about them, as of frustration they won't admit or give voice to. Take Tommy Norman, out on the Cooper., undoubtedly the finest horseman or cattleman that ever put leg across leather, though he's never appeared in competition. Last year I got him to do some difficult stunts for my 'Sheepmates' film, out there on his own ground. Mr. Thring, ,ad(! of the Efftee organisation, was so impressed by the possibilities in him that he wanted him to come down to Melbourne for a big part in the picture. " 'Right-ho,' said Tommy, 'that'll do me, but'-he turned to me-'l'll be a hit out of place down there, outside working hours. If I've got

to knock about on my own, I mean. I'll go if you'll ride at my girth, Bill, put me into the running, and every thing. You see, those people down there would just take me for a blackfellow, if I went mooching around on my own. It'd be differ ent, away from these people in the west, who've known me all my life. Stage production interfered with the making of the film, and Tommy has not come down yet." The serial rights of "Black Waterlily" have been purchased by the '"Australian Jour nal," and the first instalment appears this month.