SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 14

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

P.E.N. ACTIVITIES

The first annual.meeting of the New Zealand Centre of the P.E.N. was held on Thursday'night. Mr. Johannes C. Andersen was in the chair in the absence of the.,president (Dr. Guy H. Scholefield),;who about this time will be attending the annual congress of the organisation in Barcelona.

A' telegrarh was read from the Hon. W. Downie Stewart regretting his inability to be present at the meeting and congratulating the centre on a successful first year. Apologies were also received from Miss Jane Mander (Auckland) and Mr. F. W. Reed (Whangarei).^ The annual'report ■ stated that the New Zealand Centre was formed at a meeting in the Turnbull Library, Wellington, on March 26, 1934. The first, year's activities had been naturally restricted. JThe chief concern of the executive had been to keep the membership within the rules as laid down by the London body. In addition to the six members who attended the first annual meeting, twenty-six new members had been elected during the year.

At the second meeting it had been decided, following on a cable from London, to appoint Miss Nelle Scanlan as New Zealand delegate to the 1934 Congress in Scotland. The first social meeting of the centre on October 29 last was a brilliant success. The guests' of the. evening were Miss Edith Lyttelton and Dr. A. J. Harrop. A second-social gathering was held early this year to farewell Dr. Scholefield.

The centre had interested itself to a helpful degree in matters of literary importance in New Zealand and had also orjanised a deputation to Parliament in an endeavourUo secure som'b recognition for Mr. James Cowan's work for New Zealand literature. The executive offered its congratulations to the following members who recently received honours from his Majesty the King:—Miss Edith Howes, Mr. Johannes C. Andersen, and Dr. Scholefield. The financial statement showed a small credit balance.

"In conclusion." stated the report, "the executive feels that having accomplished the rather difficult .task of establishing this New Zealand centre, we may look forward to a more interesting and fruitful. year. Particular attention will be paid to members in other centres of .the Dominion, so that they may establish a-closer contact with the work of the organisation and be enabled to meet, where possible, members of the P.E.N. who may visit New Zealand." , Following a request from London to nominate two distinguished' writers from New Zealand as honorary members of the head bodyi it was decided to name Miss Jessie Mackay and Mr. Johannes Andersen as being worthy of this high literary recognition. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Dr. Scholefield; vice-president, Mr. Johannes C. Andersen; executive, Mrs. Mona Tracey (Christchurch), Misses Jane Mander (Auckland), Eileen Duggan (Wellington), and Edith Howes (Dunedin), and Messrs. C. A. Marris, A. E. Currie, and O. N. Gillespie: hon. secretary and. treasurer, Mr. Pat Lawlor. _ I