GUIDES TO HELP IN EMERGENCY

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 20

GUIDES TO HELP IN EMERGENCY

NATIONAL REGISTER PLANNED MINIMIZING SUFFERING OF CIVILIANS By BIG GUIDE “Service is the rent we pay for our room on earth.” Imperial Guide Headquarters have issued the following circular: “In response to various requests the executive committee has authorized the following statement of policy for a national emergency. It feels that the desire of many Guiders and Rangers to volunteer for service to minimize the dangers and suffering of the civil population is entirely consistent with the Guide promise of helping others and is in no sense inconsistent with working for the cause of peace, and it welcomes such desires.” This was discussed at the commissioners’ conference and it was felt by everyone that as a movement the Girl Guides should be ready to offer their services without delay in the event of any national emergency. New Zealand headquarters bases its policy in this matter on the views expressed by Imper: I Headquarters and as a means of placing their services at the disposal of the State they propose keeping a register of volunters of 18 years or over. Everyone willing to join will be able to fill in a form saying in what capacity she is willing to serve. It is to be remembered that in every case the signing qf these forms will be purely voluntr y ard that the expression “national ■ aergency” can mean emergencies such as floods and earthquakes and not only the national disaster of war.

The thoughts of every Guider and Ranger at present is with those guiding the destiny of the Empire; hoping that this country will not again be plunged into war. That the outlook is black,, very black indeed, cannot be denied, and at present one does not" know what the next day may bring forth. Therefore through this Guide column it is suggested that every Guider and Ranger give this matter her urgent attention that she may be prepared at a moment’s notice to live u j to her motto. The time for preparation is now; it is not desirable to be unduly pessimistic but tomorrow may be too late. The Guide’s duty is clear before her; that each must consider immediately how she could best serve her country in an emergency and that she request that her name be entered on the headquarters register. It is not necessary to give a reminder of the response to service, given by the Guides in 1914. Their response was immediate: may ours if the necessity arises be as immediate. And there is this to consider: We may not this time be in a position of comparative safety hundreds of miles from the seat of action. Every commissioner, Guider and Ranger who wishes to be placed on the headquarters register should send her name to me immediately. If we i keep a record of Southland names here also in our own province it may be of use for local emergencies. Names will be forwarded to headquarters immediately with a request for register forms. G. McKenzie, Sec. 8, Glencoe R.D.