DOMINION POETESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23162, 7 October 1938, Page 15

DOMINION POETESS

MISS JESSIE MACKAY

MEMORIAL PROPOSALS

ANNUAL PRIZE AND MONUMENT

[by telegraph OWN correspondent] ' CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday The P.E.N. Centre of New Zealand passed a resolution recording deep sorrow at the death of Miss Jessie Mackay, a foundation member of the centre and a well-loved veteran of New Zealand letters, and offering its deepest sympathy to her relatives. "Members of the P.E.N., however," the resolution continued, "nro mindful that Jessie Mackay died full of honour, and they express tlieir appreciation of all that she accomplished as poet, critic and crusader. Jessie Mackay was ono of the most gifted and original poets that this country has produced, and her genius was recog-nised-abroad, as well as at homo. "As a native-born New Zealandor she pioneered in the expression of the New Zealand spirit, and linked it with a passionate lovo of tho Celtic race from which she sprang. As a critic she .was authoritative ami inspired; with the keenest insight and the highest standards she combined a gentle kindness wherever kindness was deserved. Her interest in the work of young authors was warm, unselfish and unflagging. As a crusader her pen was at the service of cause after cause, and 110 odds daunted her cortrage. Illustrious in her art, she was noble in friendship, her devotion to duty and her disregard of self. The # P.E.N. salutes the memory of a great poet and a great woman."* A cohimittee, consisting of Messrs. C.. A. Marris (president), Johannes Andersen, Alan Mulgan and Pat Lawlor, has been appointed to consider the following proposals as to a national memorial to the late Miss Mackay:— (1) An annual prize for the best New Zealand poem of not less than, say. 20 lines, to be called the Jessie Mackay Memorial Prize." That the judge or judges, be appointed jointly by tho Chief Parliamentary Librarian and the president of tho P.E.N. (2) A monumental memorial of some kind in the new National Library, with the consent of the Government.