NEW POET LAUREATE

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1930, Page 5

NEW POET LAUREATE

JOHN MASEFIELD Man Who was a Barman (Received May 11 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May ID. The appointment is announced of Mr John Masefield as Poet Laureate. Mr Masefield's appointment was announced from the Lord Chamberlain’s office at Buckingham Palace in this manner: “The King has graciously been pleased to appoint John Masefield, Esq., B. Litt., to be Poet Laureate-) n-Ofdinary to His Majesty in the room of Robert Bridges, Esq., 0.M., B. Litt., M.A., deceased.” Mr Masefield was the “general favourite” for the post. Probably he is the only Poet Laureate who has ever earned his living by handling pots of boor over a bar in a public house. This ' as thirty years ago. when he was Gfrandod in New York. Everybody appears thoroughly (leased with the appointment. The rations viewpoints are epitomised by Mr George Bernard Shaw, who says: “The King could not have appointed a bettor man.” The “Daily Express” editorially says: “If wo must have a Poet Laureate. then Aft Masefield is as good as any of half-a-dozen who might have filled the silences left by. AFr Bridges.” Though it ha.s frequently been denied. the view still persists among the public that Mr Rudyard Kipling has boon ruled out for the post, owing to l.is “Wid'ow Windsor” poem, but it is generally believed that ho would not have accepted in any ease.