BOY SCOUTS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19165, 23 November 1927, Page 14

BOY SCOUTS.

-—♦ ANNUAL MEETING OF DOMINION COUNCIL. The annual meeting of the Dominion Boy Scout Council opens in the Provincial Council Chamber this morning. Tho Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) has teen asked to officially open the proceedings. The annual report of tho Council announces, with regret, the resignation of his Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson from the position of Dominion Chief Scout His Excellency's resignation' in no way implies that his interest in the movement will not be continued. He has retained the office of patron of the Boy Scouts' Association, and has expressed his intention of continuing to support the movement in every possible way and upon eveiy occasion. The following table shows the growth of the movement during the year under review:— 1927 1926 Inc. Bov Scouts ... 6400 5341 1059 "Wolf Cubs ... 3063 1903 1160 Sea Scouts ..." 205 155 50 Rovers ... ... 78 54 24 Scout Officers ... 787 ooi 233 Boy Scout Troops ... 237 204 33 Wolf Cub Packs ... 142 92 50 During the twelve months ended September 30th last, the badges issued to Boy Scouts were as follows: —King Scout, 182; Ist class, 431; 2nd class, 1477. To Wolf Cubs: Ist star, 6232nd.star, 347. The growth of the movement in the Christchurch Scout District is shown in the following table:— „ . 1927 1926 Boy Scout Troops ... 15 13 Wolf Cub Packs ... 16 9 Sea Scout Troop ... 1 l" Scout Officers ... ... 66 38 Boy Scouts ... ... 380 295 Wolf Cubs ... ... 317 173 Sea Scouts ... ... 24 18 For the Dominion, the increase in twelve months has been 31.54 per cent. A remarkable increase is that of 42 per cent, in the strength of the warrant ranks, indicating that the difficulty of. officering the Scout and Cub units is being overcome. The increase in Sea Scouting is gratifying, and it is the desire of the executive that the sea spirit should be fostered amongst the rising generation. Evidence of the keenness of Wellington in the matter of sea scouting is given by the very creditable performance put up by the "Collingwood" company in winning Earl Jellicoe's silver trident" for the best all-round Sea Scout company in the Dominion. Reference is made to the award, the highest that can be conferred on a Boy fccout, of the "Cornwell" Scout badge to Troop Leader A. Meachen, of Wellington. This award is conferred only by the Chief 'Scout himself. Silver crosses (for gallantry with considerable risk) have been awarded Rover Scout .1. Ronnie, Dunedin, and Patrol Leader J. Mehalski, Dunedin. Other awards are set out m the report. At the beginning of the year, assets S e i ed ,mb,ht,es V £2472, of which was represented by cash in hand and reserve. At the close of the'year »m„. ffr JSLS 8 * 8 07 «- liabilities amounted to £3035, of which £2257 is represented by cash in hand and in re-