YOUTH AND THE FUTURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 5

YOUTH AND THE FUTURE

QUESTION OF COMPULSORY TRAINING SCOUT COMMISSIONER'S VIKWS In the course of his annual report to the annual mooting of the Bay of Plenty Boy Scout Association which includes an area from Waihi on the north to the East Cape, which, took place at Whakatane last Saturday evening'. District Commissioner F. N. Christian dealt with the growing difficulties ahead of the movement and. indeed all movements which made for the training and moulding of the na-. lions youth, lie said:— "Tn conclusion I would like to point out that we have come to a critical period in our history, for all thinking people are assured, that youth, training is essential. We represent a movement which is voluntary. It appeals to youth. The best in yo-uth asks for leadership. We have requests in every direction for troops to be formed, boys and parents constantly contact us; are boys are not lacking in vision but I sometimes think that the adults are. Two ideals have been put before youth during thfs last quarter of a century—a world controlled by the expressed will of the people, the other a world controlled forcibly by those who can obtain power. Both have their good points and their bad 1 , and' no doubt most of us? ask ourselves which will win, not in the present struggle, but ' in that which inevitably must come. Will democracy be sufficient for the occasion or will autocracy have once again to take its place ? Ours is a free institution ; no compulsion can he applied to the parent, the child or the officer. We all realise the dangers of youth, the lack of response to authority being only too prevalent. Our government knows and our thinking people know o£ the danger, and the question is being asked in the highest circles is our movement sufficient '■ Can it coup with the situation ? Will not compulsion be necessary and will not the; officers have to be paid ? A warning must be given to all who would, take the easy path of compulsion, that such would probably destroy the best we have striven for and would give regimentation without any spiritual background. Honour ami integrity are not attributes which come by force. If the world is to be remade the foundations: must be laid in youth. This movement has consistently taught selfdiscipline,, the necessity for individual and corporate el fort, real service: and its very foundation is in a faith in God. We appeal to parents to assist i» this work of self-discipline by youth, the greatest foundation of all security. We appeal to. the church to take more interest in our work. Wer appeal to> young men and young women to render the service called for to-day, for there, never was a greater challenge and never so bare a market of supply.