BADEN POWELL CENTENARY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 2

BADEN POWELL CENTENARY

LETTER FROM WORLD CHIEF GUIDE

“I am in Mexico today, sharing in the dedication of our newly-found third world centre for girl guides and girl scouts,” wrote Lady Baden Powell on March 1 in a letter to the New Zealand Girl Guides’ Association.

“It is my husband’s birthday—and mine too—and on this day next year we celebrate the hundredth anniversary of his birth, as well as the fiftieth year since he founded the scout movement for boys and girls of the world,” she said. “At every turn I am told, as a considered opinion, that his invention of scouting was a very great thing for humanity, and its contribution to the well being, and the happiness and the training of young people is now beyond measuring. It is a tremendous force for good. Having shared his life with him and seen the movement he created develop, in my capacity as Wirld Chief Guide. I naturally think so too. “The early pioneers built it, its leaders and followers have developed it to its present high standard. But even so we can only touch a tiny percentage of those to whom it could mean so much, for our resources, both human and material, are very limited, “So now—on the ninety-ninth anniversary of my husband’s birthmay I throw out this call to every man and woman and child who has been connected with scouting and guiding, whose life has been touched by its influence, to rally to our side during these 12 coming months and help us to achieve a higher goal. I hope they will now give back to the moyement which in some measure has enriched their lives—a centenary birthday gift. “Will you do this and give just one more morsel of support, just one more hour of time, just one more piece of service, find just one more leader to share our task, just one more contribution of money, so that just one more door may be opened for a child to enter and be helped through the activities and fellowship of scouting?” One of the ways in which the Baden Powell centenary is to be celebrated is by holding regional world camps for Guides. These will be held in the Philippines in January, 1957, Canada in August, 1957, and Switzerland and Britain in July, 1957. In New Zealand it is planned to hold a Dominion camp for 1250 Girl Guides and leaders. The camp will be on Mr Alan Marshall’s property, “Porewa,” Marton, from January 2 to January 12, 1957.