Miss New Zealand Quest Begins Today

Chronicle (Levin), 1 February 1949, Page 7

Miss New Zealand Quest Begins Today

The search for this year's ideal New Zealand girl, who will bear the title of'"Miss New Zealand,' 1949" on her visit to the United Kingdom later this year, began Loday. It is being conducted by the Air Force Association to assist in establisning an Air Force Memorial Fund. The quest is to be officia ly started in a natwork broadcasu from the YA statidns Wellington at 9.15 this evening, after the news, Its patron is Sir Keith Park, Dominion president of the Air Force Association, and the board of directors cnsists of Mr. A. J. Manson (chairman) , T. A. Barrow (Air Secretary) , Mrs. D. Basham, A. E. Tarrant (N.Z. Junior Chamber of Commerce), H. A. Davy (president,! Wellington branch of A.E.A.), R. J.! Sinc'air (Pahiatua), F. Maurice Ciarke (general manager, National Airways Corpcration) , F. >E. Wimp (president, Auckland branch of A.F.A.), and Hume D. Cnristie (president of N.Z. Aero Clubj . The treasurer of the quest is Mr. F. A. Davis, secretary of the A.F.A. Except for a change in the system of qualifying fees, the quest follows almost exact'y tne same lines as that won by Miss Mary Wootton two years ago. Girls will be judged not just on their looks, but also on their education, deportment and personaiity, sporting qualifications and photogenic possibilities. But again "bathing beauty" photographs are definitely ruled out! Thpv mnst be of British oarent-

age, born in New Zealand, never married, an'd between the ages of 18 and 30 inclusive on the day the entries close, April 30. The candidates will be judged by personal int'erview by a panel of i four judges who are yet to be, appointed. For the purpose of the, quest New Zealand wiT be divided' into 17 districts— Northland, Auck-, land, Waikato, Poverty Bay, Tara-; n?vki, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui,Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, Ne'son, Marlborough, West'and, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland._ Provided there are at least three competitors in their district, the local winners, t) bear the title "Miss Auck and" and so on, will win a prize of £50 each. Each of the 17 district winners will go to Wel ington for the final choice of '"Miss New Zealand," probably in June, so that she can reach Britain for her holiday durjng the- English summer. In addition to the trip to Britain, "Miss New .Zealand" will receive. a cheque for £200 for her expenses on the- journey, a complete wardrobe and a screen test. • There will be a special prize for the candidate raising the mpst money, though it is emphasised that this will not count at all - in ihe judging, which will be =on; per-r sonal merit alone. The qualifying fee for candidates, to be raised by their own efforts or by those of their sponsors, is £100. This go'e&.to the Air Force Associa-: tion for the Memorial Fuhd. To give local interests a greater inter-' est in .fhe contest a system of rebates is "being permitted.' SporisOring organisati'ons who collect more than £100 for a can'didate-may reJ

tain one-third qf the extra money collected betweeh £101 and ..£200, 40 per cent. between £201 and £300 and 50 per cent. from £301 onwards. This method, which brings finahcial benefit to'lthe local sponsors as !well as to tne national fund, has IWorked1 wcll .'W °the| couhtries. . Any reputable organisation can '/take advantage of the quest by sponsoring its own candidate an'd keeping.for itseif part of the money it collects; accord.i.p^,..to the sea e. First/' Cntry inV^fhie" qtt'est "Has aMad^f^fen received from the ManaVatu bfartch- -oi the Air Force Association which has nominated Miss Nona Claife Kirigsbeer, 22-yeai'-old ' elocution teacher of Pal4nerston^Nprtn;,^s.:'itS. dandidate. ; , !■ Full 'infarmatiQh is ' 'avail-able'; to prospective candidates an'd sponsors from the !,e.&ecutive director, Mr. K. W. Klilpatrick, Box 3002, Wellington. 1