SCOUT NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 5

SCOUT NOTES.

[ Exclusive to T m Pbess.j

LBy LONB WOLF.]

The Metropolitan Commissioner says : ?,r S We6k the Dominion Council held its annual meeting at Wellington. There was a good at, tendance from all districts. The meefcng was presided over by the Chief °~ lOner ' Colonel Fenwiek, who wil? \ plt>i t Sant at,m °sphere of goodwould h. K tacL , and geniality. It notes to ~! Kiyo tlle ra nge of these ters whirl? V ° an acoount of all matresolulif,n« W , CrC , considered, and of all following may P assed v bu t the Scouts • interesting to K on h u-^ kela - L€ader ' Miss Nancy Wilr ; na t C l 6 a r ! lember of the CounSt'a rt, S only lad y member. The K rfS' at s were miich discussed. Unj . t u y have not progressed r nnn, 0 v | m ° ?3 a nner other Scouts, foi Commissioner \Z 7?^^ OUtS} has resigned, and for 4 1 S ea Scouts will come ?!■ 7* r! conimi ssioncr for the disWas Pointed out that Sea shnnlH wcr ® not a distinct class, but t r*n in!*, S° through tile USUaI Scout fid Uas dec 'ded that for the HI S I,0 o ono 00uId ljo enrolled in bcouts who had not passed h.^l„ SGCOn ," ol ? ss tosfc . and tha.t the p*n n and standards in the 'Vu a PP' to Sea Scouts. On i . °'" e r hand the Sea Scout handii.. ' r , W ' ,0 C {? llas been approved by Chief Scout, is to bo used for training purposes. It was also con- | el " 0 d that Sea Scouts should wear siorts, in the same manner as other OCiOUts.

Rovers also had their status fully considered. In Wellington there is a separate Rover group containing about V< u there are also 12 Hover crews attached to groups. This is quite in accordance with the P.0.R., as a group may consist of Scouts, cubs, and Hovers, or any one of these sections. It was stated that in other districts Kovers' crews had been started unconnected with other sections, but had not been a success. It was decided that each commissioner should deal with the Rovers in his district in his own way so long as it conformed with the P.O.R.

On Tuesday evening we were invited to see a parade of the Wellington Rover group. There wero about ?0 present, and all seemed very alert and keen. The investiture ceromony was most impressive. A round-table was placed in the middle of the room, covered with a dark cloth. Three candles were lit after the electric lights had been turned down. These ►signified the transitions from Cubs to Scouts, and from Scouts to liovers. Two Scouts were then brought forward. Each had to repeat the Scout Laws one by one, and as each law was finished a otindle was lit. The Scout dipped his hands in water as a symbol that he was beginning a new life, and was formally invested as a member of tho Rover crew.

As some uncertainty has been caused by the amendments made in the P.O.R. in England, relating to Rovers, tho council decided that amendments made in England do not take effect in tho Dominion until they have been approved and circulated by Headquarters here. It is quite possible that they may not bo adapted to local conditions.

Tho most difficult subject dealt with by the Council was finance. The balance-sheet for the year showed » loss of between Jl'iXM) and £IOOO, and it is apparently impossible to reduce tho expenditure further, although commissioners now have to pay their own travelling expenses. A registration fee for all Scouts, as in America, was proposed, but was withdrawn in favour of an amendment, wbicli instructed the executive to draw up a permanent scheme of finance by March noxt. Compared with other districts, Canterbury is by far tho poorest. In Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin the Scouts receive generous financial support from public-spirited citizens to an extent which makes us here green with envy. The Council decided to approve ot a standard Troop Register, and it was left to the Canterbury Commissioner to have one prepared, and circulated as soon as possible. The results of the recent examinations for first-class, and other badges, have been communicated to _ Scoutmasters. but have not been included in these notes, as it is intended to publish a list on the first Saturdav of the month, of all badges awarded during the preceding month.