NEW ZEALAND WRITERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 192, 16 August 1938, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND WRITERS .

A PLAN FOR ENCOURAGEMENT, v

(To the Editor.) Would it not be possible to do something both definite and continuous to encourage JJew Zealand literature, with Xew Zealand eettuiot from the pens of Xew Zealand writers. Time ■ passes. The pioneers who laid the foundation stones of this Dominion, as also their inune--diate descendants, are rapidly leaving the' scenes of their labours. The tales they could I tell, the scenes they looked upon, the hazards, g joys and sorrows of life as it then was if not recorded as history, or woven into fabric of romance, or verse, must eoon be lost to future generations. Again, both asvC and fire are altering the landscape known to the pioneers. The present generation will eoejiV have little to remind them of New Zealand I as it used to be or to stimulate them to foUowjf in the footsteps and with the spirit dkplaved by their forefathers in those early days upon which the twilight of evening is surely approaching. I suggest that the profits of one ' of the many art unions held should annually be devoted to a literary competition open only to Xew Zealand writers and that the subject must have a Xew Zealand setting, be ij|§ history, romance, travel or verse of a purely descriptive nature. The prizes in the art nnkm should be the usual money prizes, but fifS lieu of the five-pound prizes and the oneli? I pound prizes copies of the winning book should be substituted—in this manner the number of iprizes in the art union would be increased na&ii a substantial advertisement given to the booVo In the literary competition, to which the profits of this art union would be devoted, the prizes would consist of money for the finst.v'. second and third and a bronze medal bearing' i upon it "Xew Zealand Literary Competition," I with the date and name of the prize winner. The idea of using an art union for the pnr--i. pose has among others perhaps the following advantages: The money is raised by voluntary >; contributions. It is of annual occurrence. The competition at the outset is advertised by the [ art union sales of tickets all over the country, which is also a good advertisement later ©a for the three prize-winning books. An mrt union held for this purpose suggests to the public generally the possibility of their ; assisting in the discovery of an unknown author in whose company they might be •Wβ'! to pase many a pleasant hour in the future. G. de S. BAYIJS.