GIRL GUIDES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 11 December 1923, Page 9

GIRL GUIDES.

A SPLENDID MOVEMENT. INAUGURATED IX AUCKLAND. The Girl Guides movement, which is the sister organisation to that of the Boy Scouts, was officially launched in New Zealand last evening when the Auckland centre held its public inaugural meeting in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Full-hearted support was accorded the organisation by his Excellency the Governor-General, who spoke enthusiastically of the undoubted advantages to be derived by every girl who became a guide. The Mayor, Mr. •I. H. Gunson. presided over the meeting, which though representative and enthusiastic, was not nearly as large as the importance of the occasion warranted.

The Mayor pointed out that the Girl Guides had proved as successful as the Boy Scouts movement, and was complementary to existing organisations for girls, not in conflict with them. It wae a matter for satisfaction that the Auckland Provincial Commissioner was Mrs. W. R. Wilson, under whose guidance the Mayor was sure the movement would progress. (Applause). There were many other ladies in the city who had time to devote to this , work, and he trusted they would do their share and so take up their responsibilities of citizenship.

Lord Jellicoe's View. Lord .Tellicoe said the Boy Scouts movement was great, but he thought the Girl Guides was even greater, because boyhood in its infancy wae dependent upon motherhood. It was upon the mothers of the Empire that the welfare of the Empire depended. Theretore he wanted to see the future mothers of Auckland interested in the guide movement. Its great advantage was in the fact that it linked up the whole of the feminine element of the Kmpire. He hoped therefore, that it would meet with a great response in the Dominion. (Applause.)

An Imperial Guide. Miss Prior, who arrived from Australia by the Makura yesterday, explained that "girls of eleven years upwards could become guides, and that girls of from seven to eleven could become junior members of the organisation. The training made for sound mental, moral and physical womanhood. There was a small amount of drill included, but over fifty per cent of the work had a domestic tendency. The average girl did not want to become merely a vegetable, and in the Guides movement she found a practical education which would stand her in good stead in later years. Camp and field days were fine fun, but the best work of the Girl Guide was done in her own home. Already there were over 500,000 members of the movement, which was represented in every civilised country. It was announced that Miss Prior would attend the Guides' rally at Takapuna on Saturday, when 400 girls would take part in competitions and other events. Several songs were given by Mies M.na Caldow, and the programme concluded with a camp ceremony by a number of Girl Guides.