QUIET RECEPTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 7

QUIET RECEPTION

MISS NEW ZEALAND IN AUCKLAND UNDEMONSTRATIVE CROWDS P.A. AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. Although a large crowd of people assembled in Queen street on either side from the Town Hall to Milne and and Choyce’s to-day to catch a glimpse of Miss Mary Wootton —Miss New Zealand—Aucklanders proved on this occasion, as is usual, that on the whole they are undemonstrative. Miss Wootton drove in an open cream coupe through Queen street to a reception, at which she was the guest, given by the combined Auckland Chambers of Commerce in Milne and Choyce’s reception hall. Wearing a black suit with a blue and white checked blouse with a jabot at the neck, and a corsage of red roses, Miss Wootton presented a charming figure as she smiled and waved to the people. Apart from a few cheers and good wishes from those who were uninhabited enough to express a public welcome, the crowd merely stood and looked. On her arrival outside Milne and Choyce’s there was a large gathering, even the safety zones being packed to overflowing, and the crowd swarmed across and surrounded the car. In order to clear an entrance police officers had to move the crowd back. A welcome to Miss Wootton was given at the luncheon by the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, who presented her with a bouquet of roses, her favourite flower. j . , Although Miss Wootton is only 21 years of age, she spoke to a large assembly of businessmen without any trace of self-consciousness. She thanked the Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand for the help they had given in the contest and added that they had done great work to help m its success in raising money to send food parcels to Britain. After the luncheon, when Miss Wootton was coming out of the building, she was met on the ground floor by a large crowd •of women shoppers who were waiting to see her. Again they crowded around and had to be moved back to allow her to walk out into the street. One elderly woman kissed her on the cheek and expressed her good wishes.