GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22211, 14 March 1934, Page 13

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

By Guidek.

THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Mrs W. R. Wilson, Chief Commissioner for Guides in New Zealand, has found it necessary, owing to continued ill-health, to resign her position. The movement has grown up under her direction, has felt throughout the years the touch of her hand ever directing towards the highest ideals, and has recognised in her a kind of spiritual head who never for a moment forgot the religious basis on which the Guide movement is founded and which it recognises by the first clause of its promise. Guides all over New Zealand will regret that Mrs Wilson has had to give up the position of leadership. The new Chief Commissioner is Aliss Ruth Herrick, of Hawke’s Bay. Having known her as deputy chief, members of the movement feel entirely confident that the new direction has been placed in safe hands and extend to their new chief a welcome and a promise of loyal cooperation. EASTER CAMP. It has been decided to admit to the training camp at Easter Guiders who have not put in the required length of time under canvas and so are ineligible for campers’ license, but who are anxious to profit by the general training such n camp affords. The site will be in the neighbourhood of Waitati. All Guiders and Rangers sitting for tests arc to bring with them to camp a menu made out for a long week-end, Friday to Tuesday, and a list with quantities of all the stores required. Rangers entering for their Campcraft badge are to make out this menu for six people, and duiders entering for camper’s license for 20 people. All further notifications and instructions for the Easter camp will be published in this column. EARLY HISTORY. In recounting the history of the Girl Guides movement in New Zealand to a northern paper, Mrs Wilson said the beginning was made one evening in the autumn of 1921, when some six girls called at her residence. “ They were strangers and very shy,” she stated. “They represented the girls who had just left school and started business, and they wondered if I could get up a basket ball team to keep them fit. We got the team going, but I felt more should, be done for the girls. They came one evening a week to my home, and we had reading or debating, sewing and anything I thought would help them.”

At this time Airs Wilson obtained a book called “ Girl Guiding,” and she was immediately impressed by the fact that it answered the needs of the girls who were seeking help. It was decided to take up the movement, and Airs Wilson commented on the excitement shown by the girls at the decision. “ Soon after this, I was told there were some companies of girls doing these things,” Mrs Wilson added. “ They were called the Girl Peace Scouts. One company was in Epsom, and one in Dovonport. The captain at Epsom was Aliss Burgin, and we found we could get such things as badges from Christchurch, where Colonel Cosgrove and Mrs Cosgrove had the headquarters. For a year we fell in line as far as possible in this way, and in Alay, 1922, I went to England for a trip. In leaving, I told the girls I •would make all inquiries with regard to Girl Guides to see if we could become a branch of the Empire movement. ’When in London I visited the Guides’ headquarters, told my story, and received a great deal of encouragement.” Later she received a letter from Lady Baden-Powell inviting her to talk matters over, and Airs Wilson agreed to inaugurate Guiding in New Zealand. “ Shortly after my return, Lady Gunson, then mayoress, called a representative meeting of Auckland' ladies, and the matter was gone into,” proceeded Airs Wilson. “ I was asked to talk upon what I had heard and seen of the movement, and it was decided there and then that Girl Guiding should start in the Dominion. Lady Gunson formed a committee, and I was made organising commissioner. The movement was really inaugurated in 1923, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1925. The late Airs Ely, as my secretary, travelled with me right through the Dominion in 1924, and we were received with tremendous enthusiasm everywhere. Even Christchurch, which was the centre of the Girl Peace Scouts, called special meetings at which it was unanimously agreed to change over to the Empire movement, which stood for bigger things.

“ The result of that tour meant the enrolment of 1695 girls as guides. Lady Jellicoe, wife of the then GovernorGeneral' of New Zealand, became Dominion president of the movement. The first public gathering of Guides was in the Government House grounds, when the Guides of Auckland formed a guard of honour for Lady Jellicoe on Alay 13, 1924. Their second appearance was in the Town Hall at a farewell to Lord and Lady Jellicoe- in 1925, when Lord Jellicoe presented me with the Medal of Alerit, sent out by the head of the movement, Lady Baden-Powell.” During 1923 and 1924, Lady Gunson was chairwoman of the executive, Mrs Wilson continued, but later resigned for health reasons. Mrs Wilson was made Chief Commissioner for New Zealand in 1926, and, on another tour of the Dominion, she found the work growing apace. In the same year, the first inspection of Guides by the new president, Lady Alice iFergusson, took place at “ St. Leonards,” Takapuna. Aliss Beens, then head of Fozlee, the home of training in England, paid a beneficial visit to the Dominion, and among other helpful visitors was Lady Alarjoiie Dairy mple. The outstanding event was the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her Royal Highness, being a Guide, was especially interested, while the Duke congratulated Mrs Wilson on the carriage, marching, and smartness of the Guides.

Public appreciation of the movement became apparent, and the work increased tremendously between 1923 and 1929. Mrs Wilson’s health suffered, but nh% was fortunate in having the services of Mrs R. AI. Tolhurst as chairwoman. The first deputy chief commissioner was Aliss Enid Bell, of Wellington, who resigned in 1932 after signal service. Miss Herrick, of Napier, who has been in England for two years, then became deputy. The visit of Lord and Lady BadenPowell in 1931 was of the utmost importance, and they both expressed satisfaction at the work done. The training home was opened in 1928, Airs Roy Wilson and Mrs W. R. Wilson presenting Otimai, in the Waitakeres, to the Dominion Guides. Between 500 and 700 girls use the home each year. “In retiring from the movement through ill-health, I feel one can rejoice that the work has grown so marvellously.” stated Airs Wilson. “To leave the family after 12 years, in which the movement has grown from 20 girls to 12,000, is satisfaction indeed. I feel the movement is lucky in the new Chief Commissioner, Aliss Herrick. I can wish my successor no higher or greater reward for her labours than I have had.” Airs Wilson concluded with a tribute to the interest taken by the new president, Lady Bledisloe.