GUIDING IN MALAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 98, 24 February 1947, Page 5

GUIDING IN MALAY

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS MOVEMENT POPULAR WITH THE NATIVES Welcomed formally by Guide Commissioner Santon Girl Guidei’s Codlin & Baun who have recently returned from the Malay States after being selected by the Movement, in New Zealand to tour the Penninsula, and reestablish wherever possible the Guiding Code, gave a very informative and interesting address to a large audience in the Parish Hall last Thursday evening.

In effect the two young women who wore Guildings international uri form of khaki, can be best described as emmisaries from the Dominion for the purpose of assisting towards communal equilibrium following the long Japanese occupation. They had been appointed, they said to represent Guiding in the Dominion, and had received from time to time consignments of clothing, collected and packed by the New Zealand Guides for distribution amongst needy communities.

Guider Codlin traversed the work of the movement, which she declared the Japanese had failed to crush even during the most oppressive years of their occupation.' They had been met by a party of Rover Scounts, when they first landed, and were soon made to feel at home. Their task lay in breaking down the barriers of reserve which had grown up between the racial groups, the Malays, the Chinese, the Tamils and the Hindus. Most of the girls appeared to be very shy and suspicious at first, but they speedily learnt that Guiding was a friendly international sisterhood dedicated to girls of all races. They were particularly good at games and entered into the ones they introduced with a zest. Miss Baun paid a warm tribute to the courtesy of the Chinese and native children, who were so naturally polite that it was no trouble whatsoever to train or teach them. Indeed, she declared that all European teachers she had met had assured her that they would never go back to training white children if they had their way, as it was so comparatively easy to handle the Asiatics.

At the conclusion of the addresses, both Guiders were accorded a hearty vote of thanks and three cheers from the assembled public, Guides, Scouts, Boys Brigade, Cubs, Life Boys and Brownies.

A light supper was served by the ladies, during the course of which the visitors had a chance of meeting and talking to those who were anxious to meet them.