The Cousins' Competitions

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 18

The Cousins' Competitions

AWARDS IN THE 328th TEST. (2) Advertisement designed to put a new hair-restorer on the market. First prize—3/- and 4 marks to Cousin Dorothy Edwards (15), Barrow street, Bluff; Second prize—2/- and 3 marks to Cousin June Black (11), 62 Elies road. Highly Commended—2 marks to Cousins Zoe Smith (14), 24 Mitchell street; Monica Ford (12), 223 Ettrick street, Invercargill. Commended—l mark to Cousins Daisy Dunlop (13), Niagara; Donald Hamilton (11), Ryal Bush; Joan Carswell (11), Fortification; Annie Birch (15), Kapuka. (b) Short play of not more than two scenes, made from stories appearing in the page of October 15. First prize—3/- and 4 marks to Cousin Hannah Skerrett (14), Pahia. Highly Commended—2 marks to Cousins Faith Campbell (9), 161 Clyde street; Constance Fox (15), 94 Earn street; Monica Ford (12), 223 Ettrick street.

. COMMENTS. The results of the advertisement competition pleased me very much. This is the first of the kind we have had, and I was very much surprised at the ability many of you show both in design and treatment. The first requirement of an advertisement, of course, is that it should attract the attention of the reader. Something bold and striking in design, therefore, helps a lot. The next requirement- is attractive letterpress (the accompanying reading matter) set out as attractively as possible—the reader, once attracted by the arresting drawing, lingers to read what it sets out to sell. That is where you endeavour to express as briefly, and as appealingly as possible, the various advantages to be gained from purchasing the article you are endeavouring to sell. Cousin Dorothy Edwards made very effective use of black and white, and her printing, while free, was good. She did a very good best for “Lustre Hair Restorer.” Cousin June Black, who really went to more work to set out the attributes of “Tru Glos,” has a good sense of design, and her perspective is reasonable. I think she would have achieved a more striking effect if she had had more white in the background. As I have said before, all the work in this section was admirable, revealing a fairly good knowledge of the essentials of advertising. We’ll have another competition like this soon. I was very disappointed that more of you did not attempt the play-writing

competition this week. A number of you have asked repeatedly for a competition of this type; but I’m afraid I did not take the Labour Day weekend into account, and enticing holiday weather to lure you out-of-doors and away from pens and paper. Never mind, we’ll tackle it again one of these days, this play-writing. And let me warn you, lagging ones, that those who did enter this week have stolen a march on you! For although.the work was patchy, and much too brief, it’s general outline was good, and the competitors showed that they knew how to put their fingers on the important points of a story, and weave dialogue around them. That’s one of the first things to consider about play-writing; so you see they started out on the right lines. Cousin Hannah Skerrett wrote the most coherent effort, and that is why I am giving her a prize., I was particularly pleased with young Faith Campbell’s attempt. She’s an intelligent cousin, this one, and has the right idea. But now she must remember that plays are written to be acted, so that all the directions and descriptions, while they help the actors, will not lengthen the play, so that there has to be more dialogue than might at first appear. Good efforts, my children. —COUSIN BETTY.

329th COMPETITION. (a) The Mill (story). (b) Triolet to Summer. Rules to Remember. 1— Write in ink on one side of the paper only. 2 — There must be separate sheets for each competition. 3— Each Cousin must work unaided, and enter his or her own work, clearly marking it “original” or “my own work.” • 4— Drawing must be in black ink, preferably in Indian ink, and on drawing paper. 5— No one more than 16 years of age may compete in these classes unless otherwise stated. 6— Remember that spelling and neatness will be taken into account. 7— Write your name, age and address at the end of each entry. —Closing date—TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1932. —COUSIN BETTY. 339th COMPETITION. (a) Write a letter to a friend in Auckland telling her why you prefer to live in Southland. (b) Description (of not more than 500 words) of a garden you know at present. —Closing date—TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1932. —COUSIN BETTY.