GIRL GUIDES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1938, Page 12

GIRL GUIDES

CONFERENCE DECISIONS. New Zealand Guides are to follow the Guides of Great Britain and replace their present uniforms of black shoes and stockings with healthy brown ones. This was one of the interesting and progressive changes agreed upon by New Zealand Guide Commissioners at theii’ recent annual conference, held at Auckland University. All the provinces were well represented at the conference, and the agenda paper of general business and remits was divided up over a period of four days, giving ample time fox* discussion and consideration. The Chief Commissioner, Aliss Ruth Herrick, occupied the chair, and controlled the discussions throughout the conference with great care and attention. In opening the conference, Aliss Herrick read a telegram from Her Excellency Lady Gahvay, expressing her regret at being unable to attend the conference. Miss Herrick paid a tribute to the late >Sir Frederic Truby King, and a motion of symuathy and regret was passed: standing in silence.

In addressing the Commissioners, the Chief Commissioner emphasised the need for individual enterprise and leadership. Guiding had become more than a mere hobby, she said. Its qualities were now of international importance, and the wider education of our young people was its sole aim. Where leadership and enterprise failed, guiding would also fail to obtain its object.

COMPETITION DISCOURAGED. In discussing the remits, the conference was agreed that competitive work for cups and shields seriously interfered with the real guide work and training. It was decided that only the Jellicoe Shield for First Aid* and Home Nursing should be competed for this year by the provinces. The Bledisloe Cup for Rangers and this year’s conditions for that cup would be left to the decision of the Commissioners for Rangers, and the Ranger Conference, which is to be held at the Wellington camp site at Waikanae from April 14 to 19. Attention was drawn to the fact that guides who had obtained their “Child Nurse” badge could render valuable service in many homes where there were harassed and overworked mothers, First class guides will receive a certificate in future. The Chief Commissioner read a letter from the New Zealand Red Cross Society, thanking the guides for their effort in collecting medical and other! comforts in aid of the Far East Relief Fund. The value of the comforts collected at guide camp fires, held throughout the Dominion in December, amounted to £5OO, and the cases are now on their way to the Far East. It was agreed that a national effort such at this, among the. guides, was a very real way of giving service, and another effort for a national service on the part of the guides would be arranged later ip. the year.

THE NEW UNIFORM

The new uniform came up for discussoin, as the navy blue, overall is being rapidly replaced in England by a lighter blue overall, known as “headquarters blue.” After a very amusing and entertaining debate on “black shoes and stockings” versus “brown shoes and stockings,” all agreed to follow the lead given by Great Britain to abolish black shoes and stockings as soon as possible, and to replace them by brown shoes and stockings, not from the point of appearance alone, but also from that of physical health and fitness. Miss Knight, a guider who holds the Chief Guide’s Diploma for training, arrived from England during, the conference, and a day and an evening were devoted to the valuable training which Miss Knight was able to give the Commissioners. Games, talks, questions and answers on guide work, organisation and administration, made up a full programme which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. In order to relax from their work in conference, the Commissioners paid l

, art afternoon visit to the Auckland ’ Guide House in the Waitakere Ranges, ;i and also took part in a delightful J' evening launch and picnic party to the Island of Rangitoto on the birthday of the Chief Scout and the Chief , Guide, to whom the conference addressed a cable of congratulations and remembrance. * The next Commissioners’ Confer- ’ ence will be held at Dominion Head- ' | quarters, Hastings.