Listeners Account for 40,000 Votes In Radio Queen Campaign

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 22, 9 December 1932, Page 1

Listeners Account for 40,000 Votes In Radio Queen Campaign

Almost £200 contributed to "Radio Record" Appeal

LTHOUGH it was late in the day when it was | decided to have a Radio Mystery Queen in connection with "Happiness Week," which was held in aid of the Wellington Mayor’s Distress Fund, an admirable fight was put up by her

supporters and, although they did not succeed in taking their (Jueen to the top of the poll, they did remarkably well. Shortly after the decision that a Radio Queen should be a cauididate, appeals were broadcast from 2YA and 2ZW. Listeners were told they could help by sending in money direct or by purchasing tickets in the many art unions which were being conducted on her beljalf, but to make the appeal more direct the "Radio Record" undertook to contact some 2000 listeners, whose addresses were available at the office. This decision was made late on Friday afternoon, and by midday on Saturday addressed envelopes, each containing a circular letter and two tickets with butts attached for the motor-car competition, were dispatched. It meant very hard and fast work for those members of the staff who undertook the job, but it was willingly done, for it was felt that radio listeners would be glad of the opportunity to assist . their Queen and would subscribe willingly. ,_ As early as Monday in the following week, tickets began to arrive. / and by Friday the mails were tremendous. Postal facilities were availA_able through the courtesy of the Radio Institute, who placed their box _ at the disposal of the "Radio Record." Opening the letters, taking out the money, checking it, collecting the butts in forties, checking the money, cross-checking, and paying over to the "Happiness Week" Committee was no easy task. For the latter part of the week one member of the staff was engaged solely on the job, but when thé money was coming in so well it was really worth while. Altogether, of those 2000 radio listeners, approximately 700

replied, representing just on JO pef, cent.-an excellent response, for it was considered that if 20 per cent. replied it was all that could be hoped for. These 700 listeners represented nearly 1400 tickets, making a total of £175 odd, truly an excellent response. Many.

said they could have done more had they had the time. One person wrote for a book, disposed of a large number of tickets and, what is more, sent the butts back on time. Many listeners enclosed cheery little notes with their contributions. Some were humorous. Here is one from Nelson: "I enclose herewith my best wishes for our Queen’s success, and also 10/- for four tickets, including the First Prize in the raffle for the car. If too late to obtain these tickets, please apply them for votes, and ask Prime Minister Russell to call a meeting of Cabinet in an endeavour to get Minister of Melody Crowther to play us "The Lily of Laguna.’ P.S.The ten shilling note is quite good. [ made it myself.’ His votes were in time, but his request for Frank Crowther’s orchestra to play "The Lily of Laguna" has nevertheless gone to the right place. ERE is another, from Inglewood: "If the Mystery Queen has a moment to spare, will she kindly pick us lucky tickets, as Jackie wants the train and Mother the set." From the Ning Country: "I am enclosing £1 in payment for eight tickets. Wishing the Radio Queen every success, and trusting yout ‘Happiness Week’ will swell the Mayor’s Fund very handsomely, ta enable the distress to be checked." And beside these letters there were scores of others containing donations, small and large, and these were all handed over to swell the funds of the Radio Queen. (Continued on page 2,),

"Strangely enough, few tickets were late, and in. most cases the donors in- | _ dicated that they did not want their money returned, but wished it to go | as votes for the Radio Queen. What is even more strange, 90 per cent. of the late-comers were Wellington listeners! ie Counting the Votes. YAPPrINEss WEEK came to u spec: ‘ ‘tacular.end at the Town Hall -on Saturday evening with the coronation cereniony of the Sports Queen, | Miss. dna Norwood, as "Queen of | Happiness." Miss Norwood polled "nearly. twice as many yotes as the -Trafie Queen, Miss Mary Mcelivedy, who came second. The Movie Queen, Miss Peggy Welch, the Radio Queen, "Miss Maureen. Smith, and the Public Service Queen, Miss CG. M. Forde, all polled similar votes, although none was below 75,000, which represented 75,000 pence, or more than £800. . Miss Norwood’s total was 421,585 votes, representing about £1750. Between them the candidates polled more than a million yotes, which is ‘the equivalent of about £4177. A large amount therefore, will be made uvailable to the Mayor's, fund. . Dancing began at the Town Hall at 8 p.m., and the voting in the queens’ — contest closed at 9 pm, The organiser, | ‘Mr. D. D.-McDonald, and the committee, worked steadily thereafter in preparing and checking the final totals, which were us follow:-Sports Queen, 421,585 votes: Traffic Queen, 218,382 votes; Movie Queeu, 149.254 votes; Radio Queen, 138,005 votes: Public’ Service Queen. 75,231 votes.

Stately Procession. Y the time the coronation ceremony was to take place the attendance in the hall had increased, although at no part of the evening was it particularly large. The floor was cleared shortly before 10.80 p.m. for the picturesque coronation procession; which entered by the main eastern .door, Dancers lined. the walls, and many spectators were present in the gallery. The queens’ procession, headed by Miss Norwood, who was followed by the mistress of the robes. Miss Kathleen O'brien, and the other queens in order, made a colourful sight as it walked in slowly to the stately strains of the "Doge's March.’ The costuming was excellent. and the whole procession us it moved round the hall lookel extremely well. There were muny little flower girls sprinkling rose petals as they walked. Sports Queen Crowned. JY HEN a circuit had been made the procession mounted the stage. Miss Norwood ascended the throne aud the others arranged themselves in a circle with the tiny flower girls in front. ‘The Lord High Chancellor, whose part was played excellently by Mr. Wil Bishop, read the proclumation, and placed the crown on Miss Norwood’s head and the orb and sceptre in her hands. The other queens were presented, and a number of promineut workers for Happiness Week teceiyed the accolade from the newly-enthroned queen. ‘The ceremony was put through with entire suceess, due largely to the arrangements made by Mr. Bishop, Mr. Victor 8. Lloyd, and Mr. Vryn livans. A coronation ballet was danced ut-. tractively by pupils of Miss O’Brien. There was renewed applause when the procession came down from the stage

and walked ‘slowly from the hall. Dancing was then continued until mid-’ night, bringing Happiness Week to an end. ‘Winners of Raffles. ‘yURING the evening the names of the ‘prize-winners in the various raffles and competitions. were. announced ag folOW iGolf. set (supplied by Stewart Hardware, Iitd.). ticket No. 509, Mr. A. I. Warden, 2 Malone. Road, Lower Hutt. bat and gloves (supplied by Stewart Ifardware,; Ltd.), ticket No. 659. Mr. H.: ¥. Armstrong, Internal Affairs Department.

e Tennis outfit (supplied by Stewart Hardware, Ltd.), ticket No. SSSY, ALE. HL, 44 Daniel Street. Six-valve mantel wireless set) (manufactured by Collier and Beale), ticket No. 8084, Mr. I, Newson, Sargood, Son and Kiwen, Wdiswan Jnr. vacuum cleaner (donated by National Wlectric Co., Ltd.), ticket No. T7080, Mars. A, Phillips, "@1 Ceeil Road, Wadestown, Three-tier decorated eake, ticker No. 8379, Mrs. N. Ross, Kent Terrace, Wellington, Gas outlit (supplied through Ww el ington Gas Co.), ticket No. 89, X.M.AY119 ‘Hataitai Road, Traffic Queen's lady's toilet set (supplied by Jenuess and Partridge). ticket No. 3189, Miss Allen, 82 Nairn Street. Boy's aeroplane (supplied by Myr. Murray, of Spears and Murray), ticket No. BTL (No name.) Radio Queen's Ultimate wireless set. Gunplic by Todd Motors, Ltd.), ticket 7 2089, W. Rankin, Ferry Road, Day’s ay, Radio (QJueen’s kitehen set (supplied by Janes, Ltd.), tieket No. 4879, Mrs. Swiffen, 436 Esplanade, Island Bay. Morris Minor sedan motor-ear (sup. plied by Dominion Motors, Ltd.), ticket NO. 10504, Mr, F. Yeats, 100 Dixon Street, Winners of model electric trains:George Brent, 80 Forrest Street, Seatoun; Billie Wagle, 23 Parkvale Road, Kavori ; H. Mollier, Totara Road, Mira- mar}; Lindsay Marfell, Box 98, Seddon, ; P.H.T., State Fire Office, Wellington; ‘J. Rankin, Dominion Motors.

"6 Caller Herrin’ " farr. Buck) And "My Ain Folk’ (Lemon), Two descriptive ballads _ recorded by the _ Columbia Dramatic -. Players Will be broadcast from 4YA on Monday, December 12