AFTER 21 YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 21716, 31 May 1932, Page 6

AFTER 21 YEARS

GIRL GUIDE MOVEMENT. ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. It is now 21 years since the girl guide movement was instituted and although no pageanting has heralded this anniversary throughout the world, guides have quietly celebrated what to them, and others, is indeed an important event. Owing to the prevailing financial stringency it was decided by Imperial Headquarters to abandon the huge pageant that had been, looked forward to, and, instead, orders were issued for a week of service, culminating in a gathering of all guides in their own districts and a church parade. The history of the Boy Scouts and the life-story of their founder and Chief, Lord Baden-Powell, are known to all, but not quite so familiar are the early struggles of the pioneers of the Girl Guide movement. Away back in 1909 it was realized that an organization akin to the Boy Scouts was necessary for the girls, an organization that would implant in its members a love for the ideals of womanhood as its brother movement taught its followers the virtues of manliness. Opposition and ridicule had to be faced, but they were faced' and so successfully that to-day the Girl Guides and their familiar blue uniforms are recognized as almost essential to every community. In those days the headquarters in London was a little room at the end of a narrow pasage in a building in Victoria street. The name of the Girl Guides Association was put up on a small brass plate at the entrance. Today' its counterpart, modest and unassuming, may be seen in Dee street, Invercargill, a tribute to the manner in which the enthusiasm for guiding has spread over the world. Many companies claimed the honour of the first enrolment, but at a meeting in 1910 it was accorded to “Pinkney’s Green,” which had a membership of 20 to 30 guides and six lieutenants. By that time 6000 girls had joined the movement. As recently as 1930 there were 894,000 guides in the world, including 518,826 in the British Isles, 106,302 in the dominions and 269,375 in foreign lands. On February 25, 1911, the first conference was held, the Boy Scouts lending, a room for the purpose, and it was decided to register the name of “BadenPowell Girl Guides.” Badges, enrolment ceremonies and other matters were discussed, but the chief excitement centred in the debate over the type of hats to be worn. In a battle royal between straw hats and felt hats, felt hats won.

The guides first came before the public in May, 1922, in the great juvenile march past in Hyde Park, arranged by Lord Meath to celebrate Empire Day. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts took the salute. At the Children’s Welfare Exhibition in the following year the guides gave exhibitions of practical work, such as cooking, nursing, basketmaking, boot-mending, chaircaning and sending telegrams. From 1912 the guides weathered many storms until in 1915 came the granting of the Charter of Incorporation by the Board of Trade. The membership of the movement was 38,000. From the Charter springs the present governing system. At the head is the council, which meets once a year and from its members elects nine, who form the executive. Under the executive come the county commissioners, who are. chosen by the Chief Commissioner and whose selection is ratified by the executive. To help the county commissioners, divisional and district commissioners are appointed on their recommendation. Under the district commissioners are the captains of companies and under them the patrol leaders and guides. Although far removed from headquarters, the guides in Southland have ideals at one with their sisters all over the world and the anniversary was celebrated by them with fervour. Last Monday, May 23, the three ranger companies held a combined enrolment ceremony with games and supper to follow. The Provincial Commissioner, Mrs J. G. Macdonald, was present, together with the two District Commissioners, Mrs R. S. Mclnnes and Miss C. Cumming. On Saturday the guide companies, in accordance with their ideal, gave a tea to 150 poor children of the city. The guiders and guides, with the help of a few wellwishers and the local committee, provided the meal, which was held in Stobo Hall. All arrangements, waiting at table and wash-ing-up, were carried out by the guiders and guides. After tea games were provided for the guests and, after their departure, the guides had games and a camp-fire. Present at the tea were the Invercargill president, Mrs A. T.

McCaw and the three commissioners. On Sunday special church services were held at First Church and St. John’s, when officers and guides paraded. There was an attendance of over 100 at First Church and 35 at St. John’s. The brownies were not forgotten in the celebrations, and on Saturday afternoon they held a party at St. John’s which was attended by Mrs Macdonald, Mrs McCaw and Miss Cumming.