BABY CONTEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 132, 6 March 1940, Page 5

BABY CONTEST

FEATURES OUTLINED ADDRESS BY ORGANISER Introduced by the deputy-Mayor, Mr S. S. Shapley,, to an audience hardly representative of Whakatane, .Mr W. Surrell, of Wellington, outlined the . St. John Ambulance Association Baby Contest conditions and objects in the County Chambers last, evening. The plan briefly was that the St -John' Ambulance, Wellington,, in •co-operation with Messrs Cine tone ■Productions, Ltd., and Messrs Theatre. Management Ltd., have inaugurated a Dominion Centennial 'Baby Carnival for the purpose of raising funds for the Ambulance: a. minimum sum of £50,000 being the object. BabiesAborn on or after the Ist are eligible for the contest on payment by parent or iguardian of 3s, which will entitle jfche entrant to receive firstly, a post-card size photograph of the ibaby; secondly, 10 feet of theatre •sized cinematograph film of the baby; and, thirdly, the right to participate in the contest. Mr Surrell detailed the screening -conditions and emphasised that the was absolutely free being con •ducted by means of a series of voting tickets given free to each paftron purchasing admission to the theatre in the ordinary way. Voting tickcts might be sold before admission.to the theatre but when presented at the office liey were -counted as part of the admission price.

Zones and Districts. Mr Surrell dealt with the system of elimination by means of selecting the winner in town,, zone, district and Island until the elect of the North and South Islands met in the final. The value of the prize to the winner was £500 and £2«>o Was allotted for the second placing. It ay as expected that these prizes would be presented by His Excellency the Governor-General at the Exhibition. Several points dealt with by Mr Surrell included an explanation that the theatre-going public was the sole judge and that the St John Ambulance benefitted from a percentage of the theatre takings, th>_ theatre proprietors were definitely .not profiting. In concluding his address the speaker observed that the contest vAvas not limited to European competitors and any child,, so long a.-> Jit complied with the age limit, could be entered. In connection wvifch this statement Mr rvirrell said 'that at Hajwera a Maori baby was leading. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Surrell.