SCOUTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 20, 2 November 1945, Page 5

SCOUTING

DEVELOPMENT IN BAY

COUNTY SCHEME NOWi

INTRODUCED

The unanimous, decision of a meet, ing of Scout committeemen and scouters from the Opotiki area last Wednesday evening to adopt the County system, or English scheme of control of the movement in the Bay of Plenty brings the total territory, which is some 250 miles long completely under the new regime l .

Hillierto < the whole of the Bay of Plenty, comprising 110 less than 22 scout units lias been under the con. trol of a single commissionersliip. As a result the fabric of administration was somewhat loosely tied to a district executive, which met usually only once a year. The new scheme of control, provides for the appointments of four commissioners three oi' whom have been, actually named. The Bay of Plenty is now divided into three local associations which fall into the following categories: Tauranga, comprising Waibi, Te Puke, Mt. Maunganui, Bethlehem, Gate Pa, Oropi, Motiti Island under the* direct administration of District Commissioner J. Roberts. Wliakatane comprising Awakcri, Waiohou, Lake. Rotoiti, Thornton Edgecumbe j Wliakatane Citizens and Sea Scouts under the administration of District Commissioner Naden Mathews; and Opotiki, comprisng Waiotahi, Woodlands and Opotiki under District Commissioner C. Lofley. The whole of the new structure, still remains under the County Commissionership of Mr C. Kingsley-Smith.

Tauranga was first to initiate the movement, all troops combining to elect delegates to the standing local association. Wliakatane followed and Opotiki has also decided to joiu the. new order. For the lirst time in the Bay of Plenty, the 580 -scouts and cubs will enjoy the right to run camps and troop rallies within their own sub-areas under their respective commissioners. District events, will be authorised and controlled by a new district committee composed of, delegates from the three existing associations. The linal appointment now to be made is" that of Commissioner of Training whose, work will cover the entire territory and who will be '9 armed with a roving commission to periodically visit every troop for the purpose of maintaining a uniformity of training.

THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER

MR HECTOR CHRISTIE'S VISIT

Notification, has been received by the County Commissioner that Hector Christie Esq. ? Dominion Chief Commissioner accompanied by Mrs Christie, will be visiting Whakatane on Tuesday next. It is the intention of the Scouting community to give the Chief a warm and cordial -welcome and to allow all Scouts and Cubs, an opportunity of meeting their honoured guests.

Arrangements have been made lor the Chief Commissioner to address a gathering of Scouts s committee members and together with all others' interested in the County Council Chambers. on Tuesday evening next at 8 p.m. It is hoped that there will be a lull and representative gathering of Scouting and public interests.