CHAOS AT A BABY SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 23000, 21 September 1936, Page 7

CHAOS AT A BABY SHOW

Two Judges And 4000

Entrants

INDIGNANT MOTHERS BESIEGE HALL

POLICE CALLED IN TO QUELL RIOT

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) London, September 19. Owing to the 10 volunteer judges, most of whom were doctors, failing to arrive, Mr A. F. Fruitnight, the organizer, assisted by one doctor, had to bear the brunt of judging 4000 infants at the first annual National Baby Show at Crystal Palace. The fiasco was due to an under-estimate of the popularity of the exhibition, there being 25,000 entries instead of the expected 10,000. Consequently a circular was sent to the entrants cancelling the arrangements and limiting the show to one instead of the original five days and the entries to 500, but thousands of parents, not aware of the alteration, came to Crystal Palace from all over Britain. A state of chaos naturally resulted which was not allayed by the voluble indignation of the mothers. The hall was besieged for hours. Eventually other judges volunteered, temporarily averting trouble just as a riot was imminent. Babies were undressed, laid on scales and judged as speedily as possible. It was announced that mothers dissatisfied with earlier verdicts could have their babies judged again. The confusion was redoubled when fathers addressed the crowd by megaphone, some appealing to mothers to go home and others ordering them to remain. An emergency call resulted in the arrival of extra police, who tactfully quelled the rebellion, affording photographers touching pictures of smiling constables with a baby in each arm.

Mr Fruitnight declined to announce the prizes to-night, and informed the competitors that the winners would be notified by post of the cups awarded.