World Guide Chief’s Visit

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 44, 7 May 1948, Page 5

World Guide Chief’s Visit

Enthusiastic Reception By Whakatane Public Accompanied by Miss Ruth Herrick, 0.8. E., Guide Commissioner for New Zealand and Mrs L. Balfour, of Gisborne, Provincial Commissioner, the World Chief Guide, Lady BadenPowell, G8..E., visited Whakatane yesterday to inspect district formations of Scouts and Guides who were marshalled to welcome her by the County Scout Commissioner, Mr C. Kingsley-Smith.

The parade was commanded by Scoutmaster D. Scott, and the official party was accompanied on the inspection by Mrs G. Santon, Whakatane District Guide Commissioner, and Mrs Pearce, Opotiki District Commissioner.

Lady Baden-Powell and Miss Herrick left Whakatane in the afternoon for Rotorua, where they spent last night before going on to Hastings. Mrs Balfour spent last night at Taneatua and went back to Gisborne today. Immediately after the inspection there was a civic reception at the Grand Theatre, where the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, expressed the town’s pride at having been honoured by so distinguished a visitor, and more particularly one who was the head of a movement which was so potent a force for good in the world. Mr A. O. Stewart spoke on behalf of the Maori,people of the district, expressing their appreciation of the constructive force Guiding and Scouting could be amongst the youth of any community. Having thanked those present for their warm welcome, Lady BadenPowell addressed the audience briefly on the objects and achievements of the movement since its inception some 40 years back. She stressed the fact that it was founded on prac-

tical, fundamental teachings of good, and that it was designed to foster fellowship, understanding and goodwill right across the world. In the present aftermath of war, she said, the wholesome, constructive teaching of Scouting and Guiding, was giving the children of the world something they could aim at and cling to in a world apparently bereft of all its old standards of values. Here was a movement with a simplicity and an idealism that had immediate and strong appeal to the hearts of children the world over and one that should just as readily win the support of their elders.

Throughout the world, there was great progress, which had received a remarkable fillip as a result of the world Jamboree in France last year, so that now there was a chain of Scouts and Guides capable of drawing the peoples of the world ever closer in goodwill, but there were often not enough adult workers to carry the cause along. Her concluding word was a strong appeal to any who had the time to get into the movement and help actively to build it stronger still at Whakatane. The afternoon parade of the Scout and Guide bodies was unfortunately spoiled by showery weather and Lady Baden-Powell decided that it would be advisable to cut the Rally as short as possible. Mr Kingsley-Smith thanked her for attending. .He then called on members of the various troops to present to Lady Baden-Powell gift parcels that had been made up for distribution in England.