A PUZZLE COMPETITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22986, 15 September 1936, Page 12

A PUZZLE COMPETITION

ro THE EDITOR Sir,—A competition called “ ScriptoSum ” was advertised in the Daily Times recently, sponsored by Messrs Gordon and-Gotch. First, the closing date was extended—an injustice to the origihal competitors: then'it was advertised that no high solutions had been received, and now the published solution contains as a word the letters “ ee,” which cannot be used in any sentence. By a remarkable coincidence, two competitors are said to have sent in this very doubtful solution, and it would be interesting to hear whether these people are connected with the advertisers—a point which could be cleared up by the publication of the names of the promoters of the competition. Should this not be done, it would appear to be necessary to submit such competitions to police supervision—l am, etc., Q. Q. TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—“ Z.Z.” has apparently overlooked that his puerile outburst must necessarily involve the two winning competitors, and he would certainly have been well advised if he had made himself a little more conversant with his subject before rushing so indiscriminately into print. If he will refer to page 295 of Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary he will find a defi nition of the word “ Ee.” So thorough was one of the successful entrants that, in addition to special reference to “ee,” a definition was given to each of_ the words used. Nothing could have given the promoters greater pleasure than to see the winning entry contain nothing but simple words, but the two successful competitors abided by the rules, and were fully entitled to the prize. In fact, their skill is to be highly commended, and it cannot be any exaggeration to state that they must have given many long hours of study to the puzzle to obtain the result they did.

The promoters can say that they themselves spent considerable time on the puzzle, and their best, effort was 1242. In concision, the promoters state that Scnpto-Sum ” was unquestionably a straightforward, genuine puzzle, with the outstanding feature that it did not beguile the public with the alternative solutions generally associated with advertised puzzles. The venture was not a financial success, and it is not likely that “ Z.Z.” will again be troubled.— We are, etc., Promoters “ Scripto-Sum ” Competition. Box 677, Dunedin.