BABY CARNIVAL ENDS.

Shannon News, 1 April 1926, Page 3

BABY CARNIVAL ENDS.

OVEKs £2OO COLLECTED. ■‘The Baby Carnival which .commenced live weeks ago for the purpose of raising money to augment the funds of the local branch of the 'Plunket Society closed ion Tuesday evening. Yesterday morning at 10'a.m. the secretaries of the three candidates handed in their cash to Mir Jones, postmaster, for the purpose of checking, hut the final result of the campaign was not kiiown -publicly until the crowning ceremony in the afternoon. There was much speculation as .to which candidate would be on top, but it was generally, anticipated the Farmers’ Baby would be hard to beat, and tills proved to be so, as it won by practically two votes to one from the Town Baby, who defeated the Mangahao Baby for second place by 72 votes. The amount collected exceeded expectations, the fine sum of £214 9s 6d being raised, which must he very gratfying to . the committee for their effort. Shortly before 3 p.m. the candidates, each in their carriages which Were beautifully decorated in their respective colours, and attended by two' little girls, also dressed in the .colours, were assembled at the Post Office where a large crowd of adults and children bad gathered. Just when the procession was about to start there was a heavy downfall of rain. The baby carriages, at the head of which was the page, Little Joy Syrnes, carrying the crown, thus .had to, proceed by way of the. footpath to th,e Maioriland Theatre where the crowning ceremony was to take place. On entering the hall, Mrs Bovis played a. inarch, the carriages afterwards being grouped on the ■stage, where the Mayoress (Mrs E. Butt) (and the mothers of the candidates andrtheir committees assembled. ■ /

Mr Hutton addressing'the audience, said it was gratifying to find at the conclusion - of the effort, which had been started five weeks ago, to: see such a large concourse of people atthe crowning ceremony. The Plunket Society was to be congratulated on the success of their effort in raising so much money. He traced the foundation of the Plunket Society in New ■Zealand, which was formed by Dr. Truby King about- 20 years ago, who had recognised that something, had to be done to save the child life of the Empire'. New Zealand’s percentage of infant mortality at that time was on about an average with other countries. He at once set to work to try out his ideas of decreasing the mortality, and as a result after 20 years work the Dominion’s infant, "mortality and maternal mortality are now the lowest in the world. He said often arguments have been raised against the Plunket system, but he felt, sure that in time to come ,it would be generally admitted that the Plunket nursing was building up the stamina ol the youth of the country. The cost of running tire local branch was somewhere .in the vicinity of £SO per annum, but even if it cost more it would be worth it. There was not only the value of life, but it built up the stamina oi the youth. He went on to refer, to the number of rejects unfit for military service during the Great War, stating that if the IPlunket system had been in .vogue, when these candidates were babies, the percentage iOf unfits .would have been considerably less, ne congratulated those ladies and gentlemen who had assisted in raising the money,- and as a result it was hoped that’in future the local branch would be able to- finance themselves by one small rally per. year. He also returned thanks to all tnose whoi had given to. make the Carnival such a success. He then announced the final results which were received with hearty acclamation;-being as follows:

Farmers’ Baby (Barbara Saxon) 8378 Town Baby (lan Hudson) ......... 44,6 Mangahao Baby, (Eddie Matthews) 1404 The crowning which was carried out with pomp and ceremony, was then proceeded with. After Mr Hutton had read the proclamation to the baby, declaring her Queen of the districts of Shannon, Mangahao, Buckley, Miranui and all their suburbs, ho. called on the Mayoress (Mrs E. Butt) as first lady in the dominion of Shannon, etc to place the crown which was handed to her by the court page, Toy Symes, upon the head of the newly elected Queen, Barbara Saxon. Mrs Boris then played “God Save the Oneen ” the audience standing. Mr Hutton then presented to the winning candidal,' a beautitul silver knife, fork and spoon and to the otlui candidates silver serviette rings sui - ably inscribed. In doing so, he said these would servie a memento from the Society of this memorable occasion. • The Mayoress was a so presented with a lovely bouquet ol asteis by. two' LHtlc. Red Cross nurses. A most impressive little ceremony \ < height to a close «th a dr,cl by too susr.s? - ol the three candidates were ac ana Joan Farmers: Mary saxuu Webb (pink and biue). Hudson Town: Billie Brown and Jill hu fpale mauve and gold). Joan Mangahao: Rita Easton ai j Terrv (Red Cross nurses). COMPETITIONS. . The following winners of competitions were announced:— 1 ' • Farmers’ competitions.—Two earns ters of tea, Mr Sorensen, Heather ea, Levin; case of knives, H. Wiggins; jacket, Nancy Easton: cake, M,Butt, watch, J. McKenzie 'Moutoa; Ee qaxon* wood, Mr Cheeseinam football, E.' J. Wills, 55 Russell Street, Palmers-

ton North; cushion, H. Wiggins; liam, Mrs C. A. Spring; tloll, G. Caldwell; kettle. Mr Watkins; teapot, F. A. Wilson; hox chocolates, Billie Taylor. Town competitions. —Hamper, R. S. McGonville; firewood, A. Birchall; night drees, Mrs I. Spencer; pink woollies, Mary Butler; hiuo woollies, Jack Holden; 'boudoir cap, C. Peach; dolls’ bed, Mrs J. Hodge; doll (Darcy), Mrs Thwaites.