GIRL PEACE SCOUTS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14512, 19 December 1912, Page 10

GIRL PEACE SCOUTS.

ARCHBISHOP CARR'S CONDEIUNA- \ TION. '■''' CHRISTCHURCH VIEWS. A "Press" reporter yesterday sought local opinion on Archbishop Carr's condemnation of the girl scout movement, as set out in a cablo message published' yesterday. So far as can be ascertained tho condemnation does not apply here. Miss Woodham, secretary of the local Scouts, says that tho organisations with which tho Archbishop would havo como into touch are quite apart from those in New Zealand. In tact, they are not "Girl' Scouts," but "Girl Guides." THE SECRETARY. Miss W T oodham says that locally meetings are held once a week only, and last usually about an hour and a half: this, with a Sew excursions on Saturday afternoons or holidays, when picnics arc held and camp-cooking, etc., practised, is the only timo taken !by the. movement, for tiiero is no homei work. For tne most part, the other girls meet in tho evenings, usually at seven ! o clock, and the younger ones in the afternoon. Kimwood, for example, meets after school. As to tho open air work here, it is done almost without exception on private pro]>ertv, ror as tho movement is not yet very well known, the operations might attract public; attention, of which tho girls are by no means desirous. To Miss Woodham's knowledge tho only camp held here was at Jiiaster last" year, when for four days nine girls of tho Linwood troop went into camp at Styx. Their camp was on private property, at the door almost *of a relative of some of fhem, and save that they lived outside they worn nracticallv guests of tlie house. The* training the _irls received tended to 'mako them proper housewives, lor it included ambulance. first aid, nursing, the caro of children—in fact thero were provided badges for efficiency in almost all those things which a woman should know. BISHOP GRIMES. Bishop Grimes, whose view was asked, preferred not to express an opinion, but said he felt assured that Archbishop Carr must havo had good grounds to go upon before he made the remarks lie 'did. CANON CARRIXGTON. Tlie Rev. Canon Carrington told tho reporter that the Girl Peace Scouts were an organisation with which he had not como into personal touch, and of which ho had snial. knowledge. Ho understood that it taught girls a number of useful things, anu in so far that it gave thorn exercise for mind and body he believed if to bo good. There had been objections to hockey and to many other organised forms of recreation for girls: yet such of tbo pastimes as had merit had survived. With regard to tho Girl Scouts it seemed certain that almost all depended upon the Scout Mistresses, and while these wero sane responsible women ho did not think much harm cou.d come As for the cabled utterance of Archbishop Carr he would like to give a warning against its being taken tco literally! All knew hotv easy it was f or clergymen to sco perhaps onv> troop or even * one section of a troop, which was not well behaved, and refer to it in somo pub.ic utterance. His remarks would possibly bo reported briefly, only the strongest being noted, and tho bald precis was bkely to bo such more severe and much more general in its seeming reference than had been intended.