CHAOS AT BABY SHOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 223, 21 September 1936, Page 7

CHAOS AT BABY SHOW

National Event a Fiasco THOUSANDS OF ENTRANTS. IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR THE JUDGES [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Sept. 20, 6.5 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 19. Owing to ten volunteer judges, mostly doctors, failing to arrive, Mr. F. Fruitnight, organiser, assisted by one doctor, had to bear the brunt of judging 4000 infants at lhe first annual baby show at the Crystal Palace. The fiasco was due to an underestimate of the popularity of the ex hibition, there being 25,000 entries instead of the anticipated 10,000. Consequently entrants were circularised 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 carne to the 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 and eventually other judges volunteered, temporarily averting trouble. Just as a riot was imminent the babies were undressed, laid on the scales and judged as speedily as possible. It was announced that mothers who were dissatisfied with the earlier verdicts could have their babies judged again. Confusion was redoubled when fathers addressed the crowd by megaphone, some appealing to the 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.