PROGRESS OF SCOUTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 96, 8 July 1946, Page 5

PROGRESS OF SCOUTING

BAY OF PLENTY AREA 554 BOYS ENROLLED A review of the Bay of Plenty Scouting 1 area, which extends from Waihi in the north to past Opotiki in the south, shows that a total of 554 boys are enrolled as scouts and cubs, and are undergoing training along the lines such as Lord Baden Powell envisaged. In all, there is a total of 22 groups, which comprise no less than 31 units. There are two completely Maori troops, Waiohau and Lake Rotoma, and the loneliest Cub pack in New Zealand—Motiti Island.

The Tauranga end of the district, carries, the greatest Scout population with, nine separate groups carrying no less than 266 Scouts and Cubs. These are officered by 22 Scouters, while voluntary and unwarranted workers (Committeemen and Examiners) total 108.

Whakatane, or the middle section of the Bay carries 8 groups which number 223 Scouts and Cubs. These in turn are officered by 15 Scouters, while there is a total of 69 unwarranted workers.

x The most southerly section, Opotiki includes only 3 groups, , with 4 Scouters and 14 unwarranted work- • ers.

The total Scouting population (Scouts, Cubs, Scouters and Workers) numbers 791. This figure also includes five Commissioners—one County Commissioner, three District Commissioners and one Commissioner for Sea Scouting. In connection with the latter, it is pleasing to note that the Bay can boast no less than 4 Sea Scout crews numbering 94 boys. There are also. 3 Sponsored, or Closed Troops. These include 2 Red Shield Troops (Salvation Army) and one Anglican (St. John’s, Waihi)

The whole census review this year, shows an improvement on 1945 of nearly sixty boys. In the Whakatane district alone, additional troops, since last census have been created at Thornton and Otakiri. The most substantial acquisition comes from Katikati, where some 30 Cubs and 16 new Sea Scouts were enrolled within the last three months.

Scouting in the Bay appears to be well on the up-grade, its greatest drawback being the shortage of active • Scouters. This feature, so prevalent during the war is, however, being steadily overcome, with the return of more and still more men with Scouting instincts from the overseas forces. The common target of a thousand Scouts and Scouters is one which the Bay of Plenty hopes to achieve within the course of the •next three years.