5 JANUARY 1940, Page 30

THE SPECTATOR COMPETITIONS No. 17

Paizagiof book tokens for £2 2s. and LI Is. are offered for the best topical poem (of not more than sixteen lines) on any event that has been reported or any subject that has been discussed in the newspapers during the last few weeks. Competitors may essay the serious or the frivolous as they please.

RULES.—Envelopes should be addressed to the Editor, The Spectator, 99 Gower Street, London, W.C. I, and marked " Com- petition No. r7." Entries must be delivered by first post on Friday, January 12th, 194o. The Editor reserves the right to print, , in part or in whole, any entry submitted, and to withhold the prize should no entry attain the requisite standard of merit. Competitors are permitted to submit more than one entry, but no competitor is eligible for more than one prize in any given week. Envelopes should bear a x4d. stamp. No entries can be returned.