GIRL GUIDES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1937, Page 14

GIRL GUIDES

LONE CUIDERS' CONFERENCE

A great deal of interesting, knowledge was gained by those attending the first conference of Lone ..Guiders in connection with the Girl Guide movement- which- has been in session ■at the Frederick Wallis House at Lower Hutt. On the opening afternoon Mrs. McInnes, the New Zealand Commissioner for the Lone Branch, welcomed the Guiders, who represented most of the provinces in the Dominion. She told of welcome greetings which had come from the Commissioner for "Lones" in England, from' the Commissioner for Rangers, and from Miss G. McKenzie, Lone secretary for Southland. Mrs. Mclnnes stated that there were at present 70 Lone Guiders in charge of 30 Guide and Ranger companies. Some of these lived in very remote places; for instance, in lighthouses, where it would be impossible for a Commissioner or Guider to get there to enrol the girl, and in this case the enrolment was performed by post. This was only done in New Zealand, and nowhere else in the world. Miss R. Herrick (Chief Commissioner for New Zealand) visited the conference on Saturday, and gave a very instructive -account of the organisation at headquarters, and also spoke of guiding in other countries. She mentioned a most interesting conference she had attended at Poland, and said that there was a very artistic camp where the tents were painted in various designs, and the flagstaff was surrounded with lichens, cones, green and brown pine needles, all worked into a beautiful design. The effect of the camp was most attractive. Mention was also made of the delightful singing of hundreds of Polish Guides. Miss Herrick was heartily ■ thanked for her interesting address, and was asked also to express the thanks of the conference to headquarters for the encouragement given to members. At times the Guide captains, Rangers, lieutenants, and provincial secretaries met together and discussed the many points connected with the work" which needed clarifying. Some of these centred round the budgets circulated to the Guides each month, the wish expressed being that as much useful and interesting information should be given as possible. Mrs. Martin Tweed (Wellington Provincial Commissioner) visited the conference, also Miss J. Duthie (a diplomaed Guider), who told of a conference she had visited in Sweden, where great interest is taken in the movement, and the Crown Princess wears the Guide uniform at times, and the Crown Prince the Scout uniform, giving encouragement to both associations. Dr. Butchers', principal of the Government Correspondence School, gave a very appreciated address, and expressed his interest in the movement as many of his pupils are Lone Guides. The conference, was a very informative one, and appreciated by all who attended.