PLAN AN IDEAL HOLIDAY

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 24, 25 November 1938, Page 23

PLAN AN IDEAL HOLIDAY

Entries Are Rolling In For Columbia Pictures’ "Ideal Holiday" Competition PITY the poor judges! Whatever the reason for it-warm, fine weather or the approach of Christmas and the holiday season-the fact remains that Columbia Pictures’ "Ideal Holiday" competition is attracting a yast amount of interest. Every day entries roll in, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to select the essay which describes concisely and clearly the most attractive holiday. For there are so many fascinating holidays one can spend up and down New Zealand, so many worth-while things to do, so many beautiful things to see. But the competition is approaching its final month; it closes the last week in December. Then comes the task of judging who shall receive the fortnight’s free holiday.

THE competition has not been without its interesting and amusing features. Most entrants were content to say it in prose; some wrote what can only be described ag proseverse; Some have even told in verse how they would spend an ideal holiday. _ And one delightful essay says very simply that "Robinson my neighbour has just informed me wy he has planned his Christmas

holiday, and I gloat as I realise that he has unsuspectingly planned mine. also. "How much this news means to me. For two whole weeks I will be able to walk in my garden in the strangely quiet evenings, secure in the knowledge that my reverie will remain unbroken; no Robinson to appear suddenly at the fence for the dual purpose of borrowing some garden tools and airing his one-eyed political views. "For 14 evenings my telephone will not know the glib voice of Mrs. Robinson divulging to her friends some secret she has probably been entrusted with an hour previously. 3? And perhaps there’s a lot to be said for that sort of holiday. QE point in connection with the ‘‘Ideal Holiday’? competition should be explained. Three correspondents have written in pointing out that the last two winning essays have

both exceeded the limit of 250 words set in the first place. Now the purpose of setting some sort of limit to the length of essays was not to confine them rigidly to 250 words, but to ensure that entrants would not spread themselves to the extent of thousands of words. In future it should be understood that essays should not exceed an approximate limit of 250 to 500 words. But essays will not.be disqualified just because they contain,

say, 507 words. If such extremely rigid limits were adhered to, the conditions would tend to defeat their own ends. This week the prize goes to Mr. H. C. Cullen, Ikamatura, West Coast, who describes a very pleasant holiday he once spent on Stewart Island. Here is Mr. Cullen’s idea of a perfect holiday:My ideal holiday? To camp once again on Butterfield Bay, Stewart Island, that Mecca of all island campers, about a mile from the township of Halfmoon Bay; well sheltered, with good water, and a splendid bathing beach; altogether an ideal spot. Such a happy little community we make there, departing at the end of each holiday, only to reassemble again on some following season. In such a fashion camping, out has hecome an easy and natural means of spending a thoroughly enjoyable holiday, renewing old acquaintances, revisiting old haunts, and seeking out the new. The first business of our holiday, having settled comfortably into

camp, would be to take full advantage of the beach, to enjoy the sun, and the salt-sea air and the freedom. Next, the numerous bush walks would occupy our attention, pleasant exercise and wonderful views, observation of plant and.. bird life. Frequently we would go out on one or other of the many launch trips arranged for the benefit of tourists, particularly in the famed Paterson’s Inlet region. At least two trips not yet achieved would have to be undertaken this time-the trip to Mason’s Bay, up to the head of Paterson’s Inlet by launch, and the walk across the neck to the Bay on the other side of the Island; and the ascent of Mt. Anglem. Both these would require a good deal of physical fitness, and would represent no mean achievement. Some deep-sea fishing for blue-cod and the elusive groper, evenings of tennis on the Half-moon Bay courts, revisiting favourite beauty spots, Thule at dusk, Little Glory and Big Glory for launch picnics, Ulva Island, bird sanctuary, Golden Bay, Horse-shoe Bay-beautiful names and beautiful places. Were is the place, and this is the way we would spend our ideal holiday.

Holiday Essay Competition HERE is an. opportunity. to win a FREE two weeks’ holiday this summer; all expenses paid. All you have to do is write an essay of approximately 250 to 500 words on your ideal holiday-how you would spend it, what you would do. CONDITIONS. 1. There is no entrance fee and no limitation to the. number. of essays you may enter for the competition. ° 2. Essays must be written or typed on one side of the paper only. 3. Preliminary prizes of 5/will be paid each -week by Columbia Pictures Proprietary Ltd., for the. best essay submitted each week. The grand prize of a free two weeks’ holiday will be awarded to the | writer of what is Judged to be > the best essay submitted during the competition. 4. First prize inctudes:(a) Return rail fare to Timaru and Caroline Bay if the winner resides in the South Island, or to Rotorua if the winner resides in the North Island, and accommodation at a Jeading hotel. (b) A smart travelling case presented by Nash’s Leather Arcade, only address 133-135, Cuba Street, Wellington (c) One new _ season’s model "Cutie" bathing suit presented by Lane, Walker, Rudkin Ltd., manufacturers of "Canterbury" woollen goods. (d) A Slazenger "Match Point" racquet. donated by Slazenger (Australia) Pty., Ltd., Sydney. (e) An Ensign Camera donated by H. E. Perry Ltd, N.Z. Distributors for Selochrome Films. 5. Essays winning preliminary prizes will, be published in the "Record" each week. 6. All essays must be posted to "Holiday Competition," c/o Columbia Pictures, P.O. Box 180, Wellington.