National Writers’ School

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32199, 19 January 1970, Page 10

National Writers’ School

The South Island Writers’ Association national school for writers will be held from January 30 to February 2. Many who will attend are established novelists, poets, short-story writers and journalists. One section of the course, the preparation of copy, will be handled by Mr J. Watson, editor of the “Mercantile Gazette.” The theme will be effective writing.

Mr Gordon Slatter. who will lecture on effective dialogue, is a senior master at Christchurch Boys’ High School and the author of “A Gun, In My Hand” and “The Pagan Game.” Mrs Peggy Dunstan, a Christchurch-born Auckland poet, published her first collection of poems. “Patterns On Glass,” in 1968. Her publisher has since commissioned two more collections. Her subject will be effective imagery. This year, a new topic, the Maori in New Zealand literature, will be presented by Mr Noel Hillard, assistant edi-

| tor of the "Listener.” He was a teacher for 10 years and has written four novels: "Maori Girl,” “A Piece of Land,” “Power of Joy” and “A Night at Green River.” Mr John Reece Cole will lecture on effective style. He is a former chief librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library and at one time was director of the National Library, Singapore. He is the author of “It Was So Late and Other Stories,” “Pompalier: The House and the Mission” and “The National Library of Singapore.”

Another innovation is the inclusion of an Australian lecturer, Mr Don Crick, author of “Martin Place,” “Bikini Girl,” and “Period of Adjustment,” which won the Mary Gilmore centenary award. He is a member of the management committee of the Australian Society of Authors and contributes articles and verse to literary magazines. His topic is portrayal of character.

The course will be opened by Sir George Manning.