DOMINION CUB LEADER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1939, Page 5

DOMINION CUB LEADER

MISS NANCY WILSON VISITS MASTERTON. ADDRESS ON EXPERIENCES ABROAD. Representatives of the Scout movement in airparts of the Wairarapa were among those present at the St. Matthew’s Scout Den last night when Miss Nancy Wilson, Akela (lady Cub-Leader of New Zealand) gave an informative address on her experiences abroad. The address was clearly ‘ illustrated by several motion pictures (made by Scouts), one of which dealt with the recent Jamboree in New South Wales. Miss Wilson referred to her last visit to Masterton some time ago when Miss D. Hubbard was District Cub-Master. Miss Hubbard had the distinction of being the first person in New Zealand to earn the cub Wood badge. The Rev. E. M. McLevig, who organised a training weekend for the cub-mistress-es was actively engaged in the furtherance of the movement at the time. Among those at the training exercises were Misses R. Robinson, E. Dillon and Bannister.

Miss Wilson then spoke of her sixth visit overseas, the occasion being the first International Cub conference, at Gilwell, England. Among the fifteen nations represented were France, Egypt, Japan, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Sweden, India and Switzerland. The sessions were translated into English from French and vice versa. Sight-seeing trips were arranged to London, among the places of interest visited being the Tower, the Mansion House, and Westminster Abbey. The gathering was permeated by a fine spirit of international fellowship. An enjoyable picnic was held at Epping Forest. At the Gil,well reunion, at which several hundred attended, Holy Communion was celebrated beneath an old cedar tree, brought from Lebanon. Palestine, which grew side by side with the New Zealand cabbage tree, with the inscription: "From the uttermost parts of the Earth," Matth. 12-42.

Miss Wilson went on to mention a “goodwill” tour in the steamer Ordura, a visit being paid to Iceland, which had a population of 70,000 inhabitants. Iceland had its first Parliament 1000 years ago, and today had 800 Scouts and Cubs, and 300 Girl Guides, facts which were not generally realised. Amusing reference was made by Miss Wilson to the traffic problem in Copenhagen, Denmark. “I was intrigued to see small children carrying small red flags with them, and when crossing a highway, simply walk across holding up the flag,” said Miss Wilson. The deaf, dumb or blind similarly used a yellow flag. Belgium and Norway were also visited with splendid results, concluded Miss Wilson, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her entertaining address.