Scouting Plays Big Part In Youth Guidance

Chronicle (Levin), 27 September 1949, Page 3

Scouting Plays Big Part In Youth Guidance

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. "There are tendeneies in the cinema, drama, and radio, and in much tha.t passes for art and literature, which have proved a corrupter of youjjh, ' ' said the Dominion Chief Commissioner of Boy Seouts (Mr T. L. Seddon) at the annual meeting of the Dominion eouncil of the Boy Seouts ' Association. "Most of- these influences are totally devoid of any Christian background. These barriers, coupled with a decay of r'eligion in the home, and the limited amount of religious instruction which can be given in schoois, have cast an additional burden on the scouter, and made his task much more difficult. "If youth is the mirror of its age then it is not surprising if it reflects the prevailing indiflerence of its elders to religion. "If present day parents accept the Christian ethic, many pay scant attention to Christian worship, and their children, with all the realism of youth, cannot be blamed if they interprei non-attendance at church as a virtuai denial of Christianity." Observing that young people today seemed to laek a purpose and direction in iife, he said: "Youth, physie'ally and meutally, is as good as ever it was, and the time of iife which scouting covers is the period of ah the idealism and enthusiasm of youth. "It is the period when decisions are made, and when eharaeter takes on that ' set ' which remains through Iife. ' ' Mr Seddon said the visit of the Empire Chief Seout (Lord Rowallan) had given considerabie impetus to the movement. "We would fail iu our duty if we did not follow the chiefs trail, and utilise the enthusiasm he has aroused. "Our overall numbers have increased by 1812 iu the past 12. months. But numbers alone are not suilieient. ' ' Important Development The Baden Powell Guiid of old Seouts he thought might prove to be the most important development m scouting sinee its iuceptiou. Former Seouts still had towards the movement a considerabie affeetion and a vast amount of goodwill. The objeei of the' guild was to tap that reservoir of good will. "No one will deny the power of the moral force which wouid be unleashed if thousands of old Seouts' in this country brought the spirit of tht Scout promise and law into all departments of their lives." Mr Seddon went on to say: "Scouting does not provj.de the panacea for all the ills youth is heir to, nor is it good of youth. I am one who believes that infinite variety is good for youth, and with the objeet of promoting closer iiaison we have apopinted a commissioner for kindred assoeiations. "Personally I do not think I would like to see every boy a Scout, and every girl a Guide, for that infinite variety safeguards us ou the one hand against the dangers fhat Hitler inculcated in the mass minds of youth, and on the other hand from complete inertia. ' '

Most Inspiring Lot The Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C.)/ who is Dominion Chief Scout,. said he came to New Zealaud in 1946 with definite instruction from the King to see as much of the youth of New Zealand as he could. Siuce then he had visited most schoois between the Bluff aud North Cape, aud had seeu thousands of boys aud girls. "They are a most inspiring lot," he said. He felt that in this difficult phase in history there was more need\han ever for the qualities for which scouting stands. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser; comparing scouting to other youth mogements, referred to the boredom of driil, which was uot "found" out ou the hills, eamping, cooking, aud tying knots." He went on. "I saturated myself, before I read much, with peuuy dreadf uls. I don 't think . it did any harm. We all have to go through that phase. "But the same spirit, unless it is guide d, may turn youths into wroug paths, and they become delinquents. ' ; Speaking of the part scouting played in developing individuality, and thinking citizens, he said: "If our individuality is developed, there is no chance of New Zealanders becoming like downtrodden cattle. ' ' ^ During the afternoon his Exeelleney presented Mr H. S. Hills with the Scout Order of Merit and bar. Mr Hills has 4'0 years ' continuous association with scouting in New Zealand, having joined as a Scoutmaster in 1909.