GIRL GUIDES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1926, Page 3

GIRL GUIDES

GREYMOUTH COMPANY FORMED. A meeting to discuss the formation of a company of Girl Guides was held at the Borough Council Chambers last evenling, when there was' an attendance of over 70 adults and young girls, to meet Lady Marjorie Dalrymple, 0.8. E., who has been keenly interested in the movement for a number of years. The Mayor, Mr W. H. Parfitt, presided, and extended a formal welcome to Lady Dalrymple. Lady Dalrymple stated that she was a commissioner of a district in the vicinity of her home in Scotland. Previous to the era of the .Girl Guide movement, she had eommand of a Patrol of Boy Scouts. After the Girl Gulide movement was established, she took up work with it. Ten years ago there were 50,000 Girl Guides in the world; to-day thre were 500,000, in 25 foreign countries and every British Dominion, creed, colour, or nationality “cutting no ice.” The Girl Guides’ first pledge was to profess loyalty to God and the King. The whole movement was for the betterment of the generation of to-mor-row. It created a link with other countries and brought all the British Dominions in closer relationship. Lady Dalrymple emphasised three tilings. . Girl Guides and Boy Scouts are not political, military or denominational, and there is no recognition of class distinction whatsoever. All Girl Guides are on an equal footing; they have the same uniforms, the same laws and are sisters, whether rich or poor. The Girl Guides’ uniform is obtainable from Dominion headquarters, Auckland, ,at the low price, roughly, of 30s. This can be paid cash down or in instalments. Lady Dalryniple made an appeal to business men and parents of children interested to back up tire movement, and help by so doing to better the next generation. She . said that it was the duty of' the children to-day to keep up the splendid standards of the pioneers, and build up the country as they had built it. Lady Dalrymple told of the Glirl Guide camps and other points of interest and answered questions. She declared that the Scouts and Guides are called to-day “The Junior League of Nations.” At, the conclusion of Lady Dal-

rymple s address at was unanimously resolved that a Girl Guide Company be formed in Greymouth. The following general committee was elected: — President, Mrs W. H. Parfitt; secretary, Miss Olive Holmes; treasurer, Mrs Robinson ; committee: Mesdames Drake, Restieaux, Robertson, Misses Coates, Bush, Reynolds, Milner, and Brown. Lady Dalrymple then enrolled “Brownies” (girls 11 to 18 years of age); and Girl Guides (18 years and over). All Girl Guides over 21 1 train as patrol leaders. At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Lady Dalrymple.