Katherine Mansfield Award Is Shared By Two Writers

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29027, 16 October 1959, Page 14

Katherine Mansfield Award Is Shared By Two Writers

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 15. Winners of the first biennial Katherine Mansfield memorial award of 100 guineas for New Zealand writers were announced at a special commemorative evening in Wellington tonight. This year’s award, which marked the seventy-first anniversary of the birth of New Zealand’s most celebrated writer, was judged in two sections, and was shared equally by Mr Maurice Duggan, of Takapuna, Auckland, for big short story, “The Departure,” and Mrs Elsie Locke, of Christchurch, for her article, “Looking For Answers.” Mr Duggan’s short story was printed in the New Zealand magazine, “Image,” earlier this year, and Mrs Locke’s article appeared in the New Zealand quarterly “Landfall” in 1958. The commemorative occasion was arranged by the New Zealand Women’s Writers’ Society in association with the Bank of New Zealand—sponsor of the award. The judge for the award was Miss Joan Stevens, of

Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Duggan is a New Zealander, and has given much time to creative writing over the last 15 years. He has spent two years abroad, principally in England and Spain, and his short stories have appeared in literary journals in New Zealand, Paris and New York. Mrs Locke is also a New Zealander. She has four children, ' and lives In Oxford terrace, Christchurch. She has a B.A. degree from Auckland University. She has had poems and newspaper articles widely printed in New Zealand. After the presentation of the award, Mr C. R. H. Taylor, chief librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library and chairman of the award committee, announced that in the short story section Mr O. E. Middleton, of Waiau Pa, had • won recognition for his story, ■ "First Adventure,” from his book t “The Stone and Other Stories,” - Also, Mrs Arapera Blank, of Hikurangi, qualified for special ' commendation with a short article

F. d ; r , printed in the magazine of the k Maori Affairs Department, “Te Ao ” Hou.” The standard of these f entries was such that the sponsor il made available prizes of 15 e guineas each.