THE RED CROSS & RED JERSEY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 168, 5 April 1918, Page 3

THE RED CROSS & RED JERSEY

NOVEL BA«Y COMPETITION , . A meeting was held yesterday afternoon at JNlisa Fraser's residence, Tinakori Road, to make arrangements for an event that will be decidedly new to Wellington, that of a baby competition iu aid of whichever of the patriotic funds that the meeting should decide . to' support. Mrs. TV. F. Massey pro* sided, and there were present: Mrs. Scales (Hutt), Jlrs. Dawsqn, Mrs. Panklrarst, Mrs. Pomare, Miss Harcourt, Dr. Platts-Mills, Mrs. C. E. EJchardson, Mrs. Boyes, Miss Inglis, Mrs. Campbell, Miss Marchant, and Mrs. Penn. In opening the meeting M/s. Massey explained that the competition was one very similar to a "carnival queen" competition in organisation and method of work, and it was hoped that not only the-, mothers but people in general would support the idea. Supplementing Mrs. Massey's remarks,, Miss Fraser mentioned the fact that a similar competition which was held in New Plymouth some timoago realised £1000, and another competition of the kind, held in Wnnganui, was successful in bringing in £.'JOOO. Votes for babies that were brought forward for competition (and it was hoped there would be many) would bo purchasable for a penny each, and, as in the carnival queen elections, as many votes could be bought as any person wished to buy. Beyond the fact that their photographs would be screened 'at the picture theatres, and would also be on view elsewhere, tho babies themselves would not be ' brought before the public personally. The proprietor of a photographic studio had kindly consented to photograph the competing babies at a reduced rate, and those that led in the voting would be screened at the picture theatres during tho course of. the competition.

Mrs. Massey moved th'at all jwesent form themselves into a committee, which was done, with the names of the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke), Mrs. C. Darle, and Miss Skerrett, who were unable to he present, being added. The question as to what fund the proceeds from the competition should be handed over to was brought before the meeting, and it was unanimously decided that they should be devoted to the "Red Jersey. Appeal" and the lied Cross. It was suggested that as many societies, organisations, suburbs, districts, and callings, such as the various professions and trades, should be asked to nominate their baby candidates. Some of these, such as the PJunket Society, St. Helens Hospital, the Hutt and Petono Plunket Society, and the suburbs of Wadestown and Karori. havo already promised to provide candidates for the competition, and Mrs. Pomare, ou behalf of the Maoris, promised a Maori baby, the age fixed for candidates being anything from six months up to two and a half years. It was further suggested that organisations such as the Salvation Army, the Navy League, tho New Zealand Natives' Association, "the -various clubs, tho Press, etc., should be asked to choose their candidates, also that a soldier's baby should be put forward and a returned soldier's as well. It was not necessarv that the different organisations,.■callings, suburbs, etc., should confino their candidates to one baby only, as the more that are put forward the better the competition. Miss Fraser was elected secretary and treasurer, with Miss Marchant as her assistant. It was decided at the meeting that the competition should run for about four or five weeks only, and that five guineas should he offered for first prize, three for the second, and one guinea for tho third prize. Many useful suggestions were made by Mrs. Penn (New Plymouth), who had had _ so much to do' with the baby competition in New Plymouth.