SCOUTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 169, 17 October 1941, Page 5

SCOUTING

BAY DELEGATES MEET

SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS

With District Commissioner F. N t Christian presiding, delegates from Scout troops throughout the Bay of Plenty attended the annual meef* Ing of the Association which was held at Whakatane last Tuesday! evening. Representatives were present from Tauranga, Te Pake, Onepu, Paengaroa, Gpotiki and Whakatane nnd there was a splendid spirit evident despite the fact that three Na-. tive troops (Paroa, Poroporo and Maketu) and two pakeha troops (Taneatua and Paengaroa cub troop) have lapsed owing to lack of leaders. Commissioner Christian however announced the formation of a new troop in Waihi and outlined the possibility of joining forces with th* Rotorua and Thames Valley districts hi order to enlarge the present activities and increase the sphere of competition and collaboration. Unfortunately the movement was nunw erically Aveaker this year to the ex-t tent of 140 and the reason dated back to the shortage of eligible men to act as Scoutmasters. The executives .of the various centres were determined to make every endeavour to overcome the problem and maintain the movement at the same high; standard it had enjoyed in the pastj He was pleased to be able to report that the Tauranga Troop had competed in the Te Aroha Show Ambulance competition and brought back the cup. The rally held at Tauranga was also a signal success and hacfi impressed the judges and officers | most favourably.

Commissioner Christian also dealt with the formation of troops fromt the Boys' Brigade in various centres which were diversely affecting the scout membership. The Brigade, h© said was a semi-religious organisation usually associated with a churchy Scouting aimed at only the simplest form of religion so that no persom could possibly take offence. The ranks were open to all boys and he hoped with the Governor-General! that there would ultimately be 60,000 scouts instead of the 15,000 at present listed in the country.

The balance sheet which showed a credit of £12 6s 6d was duly adopted and Mr J. Ward-Allen re-elected secretary. Rallly at Tauranga It was decided after some discussion to hold the annual district rally at Tauranga, subject to the approval of the local committee, and that the date be arranged for shortly before Easter. Following a brief discussion it was decided to include in the programme ambulance work, signalling, trestle building, wall scaling ami fire-fighting. Several speakers spoke most enthusiastically about the rally whiclii they maintained was the finest inspirational display the movement had in the Bay. Amalgamation Plan The scarcity of district officers was given as the chief reason for theimpossibility of holding an annual camp. Delegates expressed the deepest regret pointing out that the; scouts would once again be keenly disappointed. The question of amalgamation with the Rotorua and the Thames Valley Scouts was then introduced and after considerable discussion it was decided to accept t"he suggestion from headquarters ancE agree to combine with those districts in an effort to promote a special camp to which boys from the three areas could go^

The suggestion was that the campr bs held at Rotoiti. The new-County* unit will be called into being short-* ly and will be covered by a centraß committee which will meet annual ly at Matamata. The two delegates from the Bay of Plenty were appointed in the persons of Messrs Brownlee and Ivingsley-Smith.

At the conclusion of all the busK ncss at light supper was served.