Miss New Zealand Glad to be Back

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1948, Page 7

Miss New Zealand Glad to be Back

AUCKLAND, Sept.. 7 As vivacious as ever and seemingly untired, “Miss New Zealand” —Miss Mary Wootton —arrived at Whenuapai by Skymaster from Vancouver this morning after her round-the-. world tour. The first passenger to reach the reception building, she happily greeted, her mother, who had come from Christchurch. “Oh the tour was wonderful, quite wonderful”, she exclaimed, “but I’m glad to be back”. Replying to questions, she said there had been so many memorable moments that she could not name any in particular. It was deeply moving in England to find how grateful were the recipients of food parcels from New Zealand. On several occasions people came to her in groups to express their thanks. Miss Wootton said she found the Englishwomen, especially in London, well dressed. “It’s amazing considering the limited number of coupons they get”, she added. During her three and a-half months in Britain she got 12 coupons. Even shoes were five coupons per pair. She could not buy many clothes in America because she had very few dollars.

NOT BECOMING FILM STAR

Miss Wootton said her screen test would be forwarded to New Zealand, but she did not know whether it would be shown publicly. “No, I wouldn’t be a film star”, she added, smilingly. “The work is much too hard. The film stars do really work for their money. “Everywhere . I went the people were interested in New Zealand, but didn’t know much about it, except it is ‘a wonderful country’,” she added. Among her souvenirs are the stone of a peach given hex’ from the Royal Family hothouses on her visit to Sandringham, also a wide Chinese straw hat bought in Honolulu. "My New Zealand woollen clothes and baggage were frequently admired”, she added. Among those at the airport to greet Miss Wootton to-day were officials of the Royal Society of St. George. After a radio recording at Whenuapai, Miss Wootton rested in a city hotel and left for Wellington by ail’ •this afternoon.

Never Heard Australia’s Protest AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. The news that she had commented on the Australian accent during a New York radio broadcast came as a surprise to “Miss New Zealand’’ m Auckland to-day when reporters tolci her what the remarks were. She membered they were made by .• ex Falkenburg. a brother of the actress, Jinx Falkenburg, who introduced her in the broadcast. He bad knovvn some Australians in the war, and his opening remarks were: “I’m glad you don’t speak like an Orstryhan, Miss Wootton”. Then he told the story of an Australian boy who gave a teacher the answer: “A bison is what you wasxi your fison”. Miss Wootton didn’t hear of apy protest by angry Australian war brides.