Lone and Post Guiders Meet in Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 11

Lone and Post Guiders Meet in Conference

During last week-end a group of Lone and Post Guiders with their commissioners were in residence at the Frederic Wallis Houso for the purpose of discussing their own special problems, states a Wellington exchange." The Guido movement is divided into three groups in New Zealand; the active companies are those whose Guides, Rangers, and Brownies meet weekly at company meetings to play the game of guiding. The Lone Guides are those who, usually because of geographical isolation, are not able to meet other Guides to play th© game with them and who therefore have their guiding by means of the Company Letter. Post Guides are crippled guides who, because of their disaoilities, are not able to join in the ordinary company meeting. They also receive their guiding by letter. This may not sound very exciting, but these company letters bring a feeling of friendliness and do give personal contact with the outside world. The correspondence school staff is very interested in both the lone and post branches. About 80 of the pupils of the school are Lone or Post Guiders. This is the first conference of the kind ever held in New Zealand, and every minute of the time was occupied in discussing ways by which the game could be put on paper in the most interesting, instructive, and friendly manner. Letters from different companies were inspected and hints for new ideas exchanged. Greetings were received from the Lone conference in England, from Mrs Archer Absolom (commissioner for Rangers), from Second Southland Lone Company, and from, Aliss G. AlcKenzie (Lone secretary), Southland. One Guider present had never before worn nor ever seen any one in uniform. Those present were glad to welcome on different occasions Miss Ruth Herrick (chief commissioner), Airs Martin Tweed (provincial commissioner, Wellington), Aliss J. Duthie (diplomate Guider), and Dr A. G. Butchers (headmaster of th© Correspondence School). All these addressed the conference on various subjects of Guide interest. Miss Herrick spoke particularly of the organisation of Dominion headquarters and also of her contact wth x u-xsli Guides at a big international camp. Airs Tweed stressed the fact that Guides were all sisters, and that therefore the branches should not keep themselves in watertight companies. Each branch had something to give tho other and all could help each other. Aliss Duthie took her listeners to Sweden, and in a thoroughly delightful and entertaining way told them of her contact -with Swedish Guides and with Guides and Guiders from 26 countries at a conference in Sweden. Dr. Butchers explained to the conference the social clubs in connection with his school, whereby scholars were encouraged to join pen-friend, meccano, stamp clubs, etc. Alany practical things also were attempted, such as games, Nature work, and a hike. All kinds of Guide ceremonial were taught, followed by discussions as to how to make these special occasions of value when transferred to paper. Not less interesting were the camp fires each evening, when song and story made a happy ending to each day. No Guide camp or training is complete without a Guiders’ Own—a church service conducted by the Guiders themselves. This was held on Sunday morning in the beautiful chapel at the Frederic Wallis House, and an inspiring address was given by Mis Wallis, ‘‘The Guider: A Leader.” On tho last evening the conference thanked Airs Wallis for her care of them and gave her a small gift for the chapel fund.