State Grants Assist N.Z. Authors

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1949, Page 6

State Grants Assist N.Z. Authors

WELLINGTON, August 31. While every eonsideration was shown tlie work of young writers, no eommittee eould be expected in, all cases to recfognis'e genius in its early stages, said. the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) today when rev-iewing the activities of the New Zealand literary fund during the two years of its existence. t Mr. Parry said the fund was estaolished to give assistanee* in the following ways: Firstly, by grants .to assist the publication of such writings as historical works of a high standard, including works of fiction, contemporary, creative literature, reprints of New Zealand classics, and Maori literature; secondly, by grants to New Zealand authors undertaking creative worit on approved subjeets; thirdly, by eneouraging the reading and study of New Zealand literature by grants towaras the cost of publication of criticai books and studies; fourthlv, by other means the advisory eommittee thought desirable. " •' The advisory eommittee had ihterpreted its wide discretion in a most generous spirit towards the mannscripts it considered worthy of publication and writers deserving of enco.uragement, the Minister said. Its aim had been to assist with subsidies lor manuseripts whieh, without the aid of the fund, could. not„ be published. It had also assisted writers with work in progress whieh promised well. Many young writers had reeeived helpful aaviee from the eommittee whieh made available to them the eriticism -of a panel of qualified readers. No manuseript was turned down without careful consideration. The eommittee had also taken an interest in the standard of production of books subsidised bv the fund and had required that in all publishing contracts the afithor should reeeive a jeasonable royalty. The eommittee had taken an active interest in promoting publication for New Zealand authors1" outside the Domiuio'n. In particular, ix had interested itself in a new edition of Eileen Duggan's poems to«be puolished shortly by a London firm. Grants Total £4100. Mi\ Parry said tliat in two years grants had been made totalling niorc than £4100. The following amounts were paid as subsidies towards publication: Arnolcl Wall poems, £100; F. L. Irvine-Smith, ' ' Streets of My City, " £100; R. T. Kohere, biography of a Maori ehief, £150; A. G. Bhgnall and G. C. Petersen, "William Colenso," £300; Bheila Crawford, "Sheep and Sheepmen- of Canitei'bury, ' ' £200; Buth Gilbert, poems, £50; Airini Woodhouse, New Zealand farm and station verse (anthology), £200; Frank Hutchinson, "Omatau's Fireside," £200; Helen Wilson, "Mv First Eightv Years," £285; Jess Whitford, "Otago Intervai," £172. Subsidies towards reprints of the following books: Jolin Mulgan, "Man Alone, " £185; A. J. Gray, " Illster Plantations," £100; John A. Loe, "Children of the Poor, " £200; M. ii. Holcroft, volume of philosophieal works, £300. The following grants had been made for study and work in progress: Anthony Alpers, gathering material in Britain for Katherine Mansfield's biography, £575; Alan Curnow, to study English literature, poetry and drama and gain experienec abroad, £625; D. A. Ballantyne, to continue creative writing, £100; Wfll Lawson, expenses in completing his novel on West Coast. life, £50. Small grants from £20 to £50 had been made to assist authors and editors in preparing material for publication. Mr. Parry said it was evident that the State literary fund was making an effective contribution to New Zealand literature. It was not spectacular, bnt movements of permanent value in literature seldom were. t