INSTANT RESPONSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26530, 4 August 1947, Page 3

INSTANT RESPONSE

“MISS NEW ZEALAND” QUEST TWENTY GIRLS ENTER The "Miss New Zealand” Quest announced last week by the Royal Society of St. George in Wellington in aid of its “ Food for Britain ” fund drew an immediate and widespread response. In the first 48 hours 20 girls, from Kaiwaka in the north to Win ton in the south, sought further particulars with the idea of c-ntering, and as the campaign progresses more inquiries are being received daily from all over New Zealand. First official entry was made on the day the quest opened by Miss Mary Wootton, of Christchurch, who _ is sponsored by radio station 3ZB. First official entry in the North Island came shortly afterwards from Miss Valerie Simpson, of Petone, Wellington, a talented girl who is conducting her owti campaign to raise the £250 qualifying fee. Two Hundred Girls "Our objective is to get 200 girls in this quest,” said the executive director. Mr K. W. Kilpatrick, in a statement. “ Naturally, girls and their sponsors will want a little time to plan their campaigns, but the Royal Society of St. George wants to emphasise again that the sooner the qualifying fee is paid the sooner the money can be turned into food parcels for needy people in Britain. We are urging early entering and progress payments of the £250. “ I have been asked who gets the parcels which the money buys. Do they all go to members of the Royal Society of St. George in Britain? The answer is definitely no.” Mr Kilpatrick. said. “ The list of addresses to whom the gifts are. sent .comes from the Royal Society of St. George in London, but it is not a list of that society’s members. It is a list of deserving people in Britain, and it includes many war-time winners of the Victoria Cross, the George Cross, and the George Medal. There is at the headquarters of the quest in the Hotel St. George building in Wellington a list of 1000 of the people who get these .food parcels, and soon we hope to have there the names of a second 1000. They are there for public inspection.” Method of Judging Another point emphasised by Mr Kilpatrick was that the judges in the quest should not be confused with the board of directors who are responsible for it. Because the judges are to interview personally every entrant it is impossible at this stage to draw up any itinerary for them, and until that is known it is not possible to choose the judges. Entries close on September 2, and it is expected that the. choice of judges will be made shortly before that date, when sufficient entries have come in to allow of a programme for the judges’ New Zealand tour to be drawn up. It is hoped that the judges will include an artist, a doctor, a photographer, an educationalist, and an authority on voice culture and personality. Another point which needed clarifying in the minds of the public, said Mr Kilpatrick, was that the winner would receive in cash not only the £250 for per personal expenses on the trip to Britain, but also the £IOO as a prize for winning her district final. Each of the 17 district finalists will receive. £IOO, and in addition there will be a special award to the candidate who most exceeds the £250 required for the “ Food for Britain ” fund.