BABY--VOTING CONTEST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17077, 3 September 1917, Page 5

BABY--VOTING CONTEST.

WON BY .BABY BLINCO,

SUCCESSFUL PATRIOTIC EFFORT.

-.The-baby-voting contest which was conducted under the auspicts of the Wanganui Ladies' Goil Cmb concluded on Saturday evening, with the result that Bab-y jj]inco, No. 41. avlio Avas the .\\ estmere district's candidate, came out an easy Avmner. It was a popular result, in ay huh sympathy played a very big part, as the father" of the winning baby gave his lite for the Empire. The returns are not yet complete, but it is believed that the ettort will result in possibly as much as £1-400. The .Sw ankers' Club baby came second, and tho farmer-soldier's baby was third.

On Saturday the candidates' supporters made a final effort, ar.d the result was aAvaited Avith very great interest. The ■"particulars of" the first eight babies on tliG list are:—

i-. ! No- Votes. Baby Blinco .-.. ... 41 65,814SAvankers' Baby 5 36,666. farmer Soldier's Baby ... 7 30,000Mrs Hutton's Babies ... 3 20122 Mrs A. Hogg's Baby 11 23,344' Mrs. M. Earje's Baby ... 6 20117Mrs. HiroU's Baby ". 76 IS 327 - Mrs. Russell's Baby ... 17 16 3985

THE WINNING BABY.

Baby Blinco is a grandson of Mr. NY T. Manson. His father A\as married ' in Wanganui prior to leaving Avith the 13th Reiniorcenivnts. and the best man on that occasion Avas a great friend of the bridegroom, Mr H. M. "Campbell, of HaAvke's Bay, Avho also went to the iront with that Reinforcements. The bridegroom and best man Avent into -action side by side. " The latter was killed outright, and the former was severely wounded. " Mrs. Blinco got s&veral letters from her husband while he was in a military ' hospital, but, by a sad coincidence, on the day when sbe received the' last Gne, stating that he-was feeling a bit better, she also got a cable stating that lie was dead. It was a, little later that Baby Blinco saAV the light of day, and it was only the combined skill of Sister Branford andDr Wilkin that pulled him tlirough. ■ These facts Avqre generally . knoAvn during the contest, and it is not surprising that the public showed their appreciation of a gallant father by loy- ' ally supporting his infant son. The Westmere ladies spared no "effort in endeavouring to return their % little candidate at the top of the poll. v The Westmere Committee consisted of Mesdame-3 Mcßeth, C. Laird, Ivo vSymes^ Messrs^ C. Laird .abd.J. Sid-.deUs.-;:::Thev met with splendid support from the Westmere, Itapaiuii, Kai Iwi, .- and Brunswick residents when they made a big effort on Friday last. And " the results show that when the finnl effort was made the majority of tno public who voted also gaA'e liberal; help..