BOY SCOUTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17155, 26 May 1921, Page 8

BOY SCOUTS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (MISS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM,} ■WELLINGTON, May 25. The annual conference of the Dominion Boy Scouts' Association opened to-day. - :■•' - ' ' The Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe, who presided as Chief Scout, stated it was not only'a pleasure, but he felt he, was carrying out a duty. ','* know so well that this Boy Scout movement is one of the most important tak'ing place in the Empire to-day. One thing more than another that will lead the people of this great Empire in the direction in which there lies not only right but their prosperity, is to bring up the young idea, the youth of the Empire, in-their duties of citizenship, ■and citizenship is at the bottom of the' whole of the scout training." .It was a source of gratification to him to see so many prominent citizens from different parts of the Dominion* who were going to so much trouble to forward the movement, and who were taking such an interest in the work.. He expressed a, hope that the conference would be one great.' success. The Boy Scout movement depended for its success upon tho self-sacrifice" of those who devoted their time and money to it. No words could express the admiration he felt, which he was sure was felt by everybody in*the Empire, for the public smrit shown by all those associated with-tne movement. They were all entitled to the gratitude of the citizens. "I do pray," he said, "that this movement in the Dominion will be tlhe greatest'possible success. Loyalty, the well-known loyalty of New Zealand, is one of the causes which will bring to the Boy Scout movement fi success as great as, I hope,, or even greater, than in any other part of the British Empire. I feel assured success is coming." In his Excellency stated that he felt it a very great honour to be associated witlh tho movement in his position as Chief Scout of the Dominion. (Applause.)i The" .annual report referred to th« great revival in scouting. The financial statement showed] a credit balance of £1244.

The chairman of the executive (Bri-gadier-General Andrew) expressed a desire for the extension of the movement. He said that Spouts could assist in the prevention of forest fires, and help generally in the Government's new forestry operations. He stressed the fact that now that the Scout organisation was a military movement, the sum of £2500 per annum from outside sources was required annually. It was urgently necessary, in the interests of the organisation, that £SOOO should be raised every year. ( Tlffi suggested scheme of reorganisation was adopted.