SHANNON GIRL GUIDES.

Shannon News, 18 October 1929, Page 3

SHANNON GIRL GUIDES.

MISS DALTON VISITS TROOP,

On Wednesday afternoon at the Women’s Institute rooms the members of the Shannon Girl Guides and a large number of ladies and gentlemen gathered to bid farewell to Miss Dalton, Diploma Guider from -headquarters in England, who has been visiting the troops in the North Island and is leaving for the South prior to returning to England. Among those present were Miss A. Kebbell, (Levin) District Commissioner; Miss Robinson, captain (Eoxton); Miss Pike, lieutenant (Levin); Miss M. Poole, Tawny Owl, (Foxton); and the local troop of Boy Scouts.

The president (Mrs Clifford Jones) in Introducing 'v iss Dalton to the gathering, said that some six months ago they had tin? pleasure of a visit to Shannon from Miss Dalton when she had addressed them on the Girl Guide movement, the outcome of which was ’Jiat a committee was set up ro form a troop, and their captain and lieutenant had attended at Ngatiawa and Chilton House for a course of training in the ideals and aims of the movement, which are high. ones. She said the formation of the troop was due indirectly to the efforts of Miss Dalton and Mist Kebbell, and so far it, had been quite a success.

Miss Daltcn, on rising to speak was warmly applagded. She .stated how pleased .she was to ire present congratulating the troop on .the rapid strides they had made in so short a time and how pleasing .it was to see them in uniform. She hoped the Boy Scouts would follow suit and scon have their uniforms. She asked them to follow in imagination a day among the Girl Guides at Fox Lees in Devonshire, England, which was. one of the homes of the movement: The purchase of this home, she said, had been largely contributed to by Princess Mary. After describing the building she said that there Guides of different nations were to be tnet, such as the Indian and Swiss, who could not speak English, yet made each other understand by their mutual interests. Here girls were taught may tilings, among them how to act in an emergency, even to the extent of saving life when an artery was severed. A guide .was taught to be thoughtful for others, not to look for help for ✓ themselves, but to help their more unfortunate sisters. Even cripples, the blind and mentally deficient were provided for under the movement, and in this-respect a great benefit has been derived by these unfortunates. She hoped that the local Guides would find correspondents with Guides in other countries, as it was veiy interesting and useful to exchange ideas. She hoped that the troop would continue to prosper, stating that she had been very happy to know that she had been of assistance.

Owing to His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Butt) not being able to be present through an accident, the Deputy Mayor (Mr A. E. Hyde), thanked Miss Dalton for her most able and in-

terosting address. He said that he was very much in sympathy with the Girl Guide and Boy Scout movements in Shannon, such being much needed locally. Referring to vandalism by children. to public property he thought that if these children, Who were not really responsible themselves, owing to lack of home training, came under the influence of these movements, lie felt sure they would become better spiriteft eitizens. He said that,, he wouulft rather see his sons only pass the third standard and leave school with a good moral training than that they be dux of- the school and have lost their morals; because'he could always buy them a shilling ready reckoner, but he could not buy them a good character. In conclusion he wished the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts every success and expressed the hope to Miss Dalton that she would have a pleasant trip and safe return to her homeland.

Afternoon tea was then served, following ■ which Miss Dalton and Tdis.s Kebbell con'dueted the enrolment of four Rangers and Miss V. Quarrie as Second Lieutenant, of Shannon No. 1 ■Company. Later the Giudes entertained Miss Dalton and Miss Kebbell to ten.