OUR SPELLING BEE

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 54, 25 July 1930, Page 37

OUR SPELLING BEE

From 2YA, August 28 — ee ENTRIES RECEIVED TILL AUGUST 14 HILE the evidence is overwhelming that great interest is being taken in our Spelling Bee, with its handsome prize of a £5) Radio Set for first prize and good supporting prizes, the plain fact has to be faced that individual aspirants for success are "very backward in coming forward." It is difficult to fully understand the marked modesty of those most expected to be interested. We are loath to think that the standard.of scholarship is such as to make competitors afraid to face competition! There must be some other reason, and the most feasible explanation is reluctance to face a public audience. It may be admitted that that is not an insignificant ordeal, but our thought was that the prize would’ be sufficient to conquer that diffidence. N the upshot it would seem, however, that that has not been the case, and that either the modesty or the shyness of people has. prevented their entering. With entries closing on Saturday night last, the actual position is that there is not enough to make a field, the total barely reaching double figurés, with a majority of these mainly from the country. In these circumstances we have gone fully into the matter, and after consulting with the judge, Mr. J. Norrie, and the Director of 2YA, have decided to remodel the competition on a basis which will save competitors from undue publicity. NDER the revised arrangement, the Spelling Bee will be held from 2YA Studio on the evening of Thursday, August 28. The sections will be abandoted, and all competitors treated on an equal plane in one field, although if : ynecessary they may be taken before the microphone in different sectidns:for ease in handling. No names will be announced over the air except those of prize-winners. The pupe will not be admitted to the Sudo, so that competitors will all be ‘ the level." The words that will form ‘the original basis of the competition wil) he put into book form and willbe on sale to.competitors and public DO Oe 0 Oa To Oo 0 OOo 8 oes

OND meee? SB ce. D re" 4) ren" |) rene) re De 0) re) nn?) LO () LES ORE These words will be first used. by the judge, but the right is reserved at need in the later stages ofthe competition to use other words from the dictionaries mentioned, always avoiding, as far as possible, merely technical and scientific words.) The prizes will remain as -before: First, an order for £50; second. an order for £20; third, an order for £5. These orders will be available for exercise with approved advertisers in the "Radio Record." The entrance fee will be one shilling, and entries will be receivable at the office of the "Radio Record;" P.O, Box 1032, Wellington, up to August 14, ra | T will be necessary for competitors to attend at the 2YA Studio on the evening of August 28..:-There will be only the one occasion. so that competitors from the:country may make their plans accordingly. a i oo , O show that "to err is hixnan" in the matter of spelling, as in other things, we have the-confession to make that in our No. 4 List, published on July 11, no fewer than four errors occurred. Frank apology is made for this, .Examina- (Concluded on page 40.)

OL OOOO OO EE EE ee EO OOO ECSCggOO UE We are given to understand that interest in the Spelling Bee is being taken in Auckland. We are accordingly making the suggestion that a branch of the contest be held there, and the winner thereof be brought to Wellington at our expense in order to compete in the finial of the big night on August 28. We will hope to have further news on this point next issue. Gee weg ae ee. .. ... .. rd sil") Oo Se

Spelling Bee (Concluded from page 87.) tion of the cause of the- mistake shows that our friend the printer was responsible for t:vo, and our office | for the other two. The errors were :-_ . impressario for . impresario liquer for liqueur mackeral for mackerel lobiolly for loblolly These words will be corrected in the official list of words which will beissued early in August. The booklet, . which. will include the very interesting articles on the "Growth of Words" and the "Lighter Side of Words," by the. Rev. A. B. Chappell, M.A., recently given from 1YA, Auckland, will: be on sale from ourselves and. dealers at a nominal figure. The literary standard

| ot Mr. Chappell’s iddresses and . the | mass of information contained in_ them will add: to the value of this booklet. Listeners by its aid will be able to check up on competitors in ‘the course of the contest. E trust that the foregoing variation will -sueceed: in interesting competitors.. There is no doubt as -to | ‘the interest of- the publie in ‘the. mat--ter, and with the measures now taken to preserve anonymity it is to be hoped | that a fair representation of scholarwill: come forward.

CEUPSRERERSUREUGEER CRS REECES REEDED ERE ESE RR UE EE ese se | The traffic policeman at a busy corner saw an old lady beckon to him from the curb. He held up a dozen cars, one truck and two taxicabs, and went over to sce what the woman wanted. "I just wanted to tell you, Mr: Policeman," she said with a happy smile, "that your, number is the same as that of my favourite liyinun " ,