HAWERA GIRL GUIDE DISPUTE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 13 May 1931, Page 6

HAWERA GIRL GUIDE DISPUTE

PARENTS’ SUPPORT REAFFIRMED NEW ORGANISATION MOOTED. A further largely-attended meeting was held in the borough council chambers, Hawera, yesterday afternoon to consider a letter received from the New Zealand Girl Guide Headquarters at Auckland in reply to recent resolutions endorsed by SO parents of Hawera Guides. It will bo rememberea that on April 18 last the Chief "Commissioner (Mrs W. R. Wilson) visited Hawera in connection with the dismissal of Miss A. Ballantine, Guide officer, demanding the surrender of her commission as captain and the return of the warrant. The charge laid was that of a “breach of etiquette” by Miss Ballantine durum her visit to London in June, 1929. Hiss Ballantine refused to surrender her commission without first receiving an explanation and declared that the administration of the movement in New Zealand was unjust and unfair in that she had been allowed no opportunity to defend, herself. The Hawera executive of the Girl Guides Association stood loyally to Miss Ballantine, whereupon the Chief Commissioner disbanded the executive. Following upon the action of the Chief Commissioner three captains of the respective Guide companies resigned in sympathy, a move that was followed by the Rangers, Guides and Brownies ns a body, on their own initiative. While it was the unanimous wish of those intimately associated with the movement that it should in no way suffer, the matter was taken up by the parents and, at a mass meeting, resolutions were passed according Miss Ballantine wholehearted support, and calling upon the Chic: 1 Commissioner to reinstate the executive, Miss Ballantine and officers. These facts were briefly outlined by the Mayoress (Mrs E. A. Pacev), president of the disbanded executive, at tlii) meeting yesterday afternoon. In tlie absence of Mrs .1. C’. Findlater, who had taken a keen interest in the matter on behalf of the mothers and who had been called to Auckland suddenly owing to the illness of her mother, Mrs J. N. Henry read the following letter received by Mrs Findlater: “At a meeting of the Dominion executive held on May 4 the 'Chief Commissioner reported at length upon the meeting and interviews held by her at Hawera. Various letters and newspaper reports were read, after which the following resolution was passed: ‘That -this executive entirely approves of its 'Chief Commissioner’s action in disbanding the Hawera executive, and in asking for the return of Miss Ballantine’s warrant, which action is detailed by Rule 23, in Rules, Policy and Organisation. ’ It win uphold the Chief Commissioner in the face of any protest, knowing that Guiding)- in the true sense of the word, is safe in her hands in New Zealand. Further, no further discussion or correspondence .will be entered upon in this matter. —Signed (Mrs.) K. S. Tolhurst. ” Mrs Pacev remarked that the closing of the controversy in such a manner that if loft the executive without right of redress was rr a slap in the face.’’’ ACT OF CENSURE.

Reference was made to a meeting of delegates held at New Plymouth, at which Imperial Headquarters correrelating to Miss Ballantine was discussed, and to the act of censure passed by Patea and Wanganui executives, two disinterested bodies, against the Hawera executive in its present attitude. Mrs Henry said it was unfair tiiat, while this correspondence was available to delegates from other centres, it was not made available in Hawera, on request. Mrs Quin said that all realised from the letter of Dominion Headquarters that the system of administration in New Zealand was wrong, in that it allowed neither Miss Ballantine nor the executive right of defence. Mrs C. Pearce suggested that, in, view of the resignation of the Rangers and Guides, an endeavour be made to carry on the good work of the Girl 1 Guide movement by forming a Girl Citizens’ League. In the present state of affairs all had lost confidence in .dominion Headquarters and, in her opinion, the movement could never be continued whilst the executive and Miss Ballantine were under a cloud. Asked to explain the work of an institution such as the one proposed, Mrs F. 0. King (late Guide captain) said that its objects were practically the same as those of the Girl Guide movement, with the exception that, instead

of working for the Honour of a badge, the girls worked lor the benefit of others, and in the interests of the community .as a whole. Mrs Henry pointed out that Dominion Headquarters had heard only one side of the story. Steps had been taken 1o advise its personnel and Imperial Headquarters of the true facts from the Ilawera viewpoint. Mrs Wood said tiiat it was a pity that Hawera should entertain the idea of breaking away from the movement, aiul asked whether those parents who desired their daughters to continue Guiding would be able to secure flic same training as hitherto. In reply, Mrs Pacey said the Guide training would continue under the direct supervision of the Divisional 1 Commissioner.

Following a further brief discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mrs W. M. Winks, seconded by Mrs E. J. Yearbury, that the mothers of Hawera strongly adhere to the former resolutions and uphold Miss Ballantine, Guide officers and executive, this intimation to be forwarded as a courtesy acknowledgement to Dominion Headquarters. GIRL -CITIZENS’ LEAGUE,

■ I lie formation of a Girl Citizens’ League was tentatively agreed to, anil it was resolved -that the Dominion Secretary of this movement lie invited to semi a representative to Hawera to discuss the aims and objects and methods of procedure, the matter being left in the hands of Mrs Findlater. Mrs Pacev thanked the parents for their, loyalty to the disbanded executive ami officers, and expressed her assurance that all would be done to foster i and promote the best interests- of the league when formed. Thanks also wore conveyed to the parents by Miss Ballantine and Mrs

King. It was mentioned that last Thursday the affairs of the Girl Guide executive were wound up and Mrs Henry had been instructed to hand over all books and equipment to the Divisional Commissioner at Hawera, togemer with a credit balance of cash in hand amounting to £22. Mrs Henry said that two and a half years ago the executive had in hand a little over £1 in cash, and meanwhile it had built, up a fund of £22 without one call on the public for donations.

The meeting terminated with a motion of sympathy to Mrs Findlater, and a vote of thanks to the chair.