QUEST FOR “MISS NEW ZEALAND’’

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 2

QUEST FOR “MISS NEW ZEALAND’’

FUNDS FOR FOOD FOR BRITAIN

WINNER TO HAVE TRIP TO ENGLAND

With the twofold object of raising money to send food to Britain and, of finding a young woman who can represent New Zealand abroad with dignity, charm and intelligence, a quest for a “Miss New Zealand” is to be conducted by the Royal Society of St. George, through its Wellington branch. Entries are invited from women between the ages of 18 and 30, who have not been married. The winner will be awarded a trip to Britain and back, by land, sea and air; a cheque for £250 for her personal expenses on the journey; a complete wardrobe especially designed for her and made of the finest New Zealand materials; a screen test at a leading British film studio; and a magnificent trophy to form a permanent memento of the occasion. As the “Miss New Zealand” quest is being conducted by the Royal Society of St. George to swell its “Food for Britain” fund each candidate will be required to raise for the fund, either by her own efforts or by the efforts of a committee of supporters, the sum of £250, or more if possible. For the purposes of the quest New Zealand will be divided into 17 districts, and each district winner will get a prize of £lOO. In addition, there will be a special award to the candidate who raises the largest sum of money for the ‘‘Food for Britain’’ fund, but this will not influence the judging in any way.

Judging will be done neither by popular vote nor by the buying of votes. To make sure that the best possible candidate wins, a panel of judges will interview personally every entrant, awarding marks under the head-, ings of beauty and health, education, photogenic possibilities, deportment and personality, voice culture, and sporting qualifications. Equal attention will be paid to each of these points. “Miss New Zealand” in Britain While she is in Britain “Miss New Zealand” will be the guest of the Royal Society of St. George, whose patrons are the King and the Queen and whose president is Lord Queenborough. The patron of the Wellington branch is Sir Patrick Duff, High Commissioner in New Zealand for the United Kingdom. The 17 districts, from each of which a finalist will be chosen to go to Wellington for the final judging, are Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Entries close on September 2, but so that the “Food for Britain” fund may get the benefit of the quest as soon as possible candidates are urged not to wait until the last moment before entering, but to enter early and make progress payments of their £250 dur.ing the six weeks before closing date. Immediately the money comes in it will go into more parcels for Britain.