SCOTTISH DICTIONARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 2

SCOTTISH DICTIONARY.

REMARKABLE PROJECTS. Wlf-at tho Burns Federation is doing for Scottish literature, especially for the completion of the Scottish National Dictionary, was outlined recently by Mr John McVie, secretary of the federation. It is estimated, said Mr McVie, that the cost of compiling and and publishing the ten volumes of the National Dictionary will be at least £30,000, of which, only £IO,OOO has been subscribed. Through the Burns Federation a scheme has been launched for the formation of a League of Donors to the Dictionary, the members of which contribute one shilling annually. “Because of the war,” said Mr McVie, “the Scottish Dictionary is one scheme which might be completely held up it funds were not forthcoming every year. This would lie a calamity which those who profess interest, in Scottish literature should do all they can to avert. The war will coine to an endbut the Dictionary will go on for ever.” The federation has done much to encourage the study of Seals literature, history, art, and music'in schools, Last year 28,000 children from 286 schools took part in .competitions, as ,a result of which 85 medals and more than 1100 book prizes were presented. In Edinburgh "alone last year 7400 pupils from OS schools took part in competitions [arranged by the federation.