DOMINION BOY SCOUTS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 17

DOMINION BOY SCOUTS

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S COUNSEL THE MOVEMENT GROWING "Any little help I have teen able to give the Scout movement has been a labour cf love, as I am deeply interested in it.” With these words His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) opened the annual meeting of the Council of the Boy Scouts’ Association in Wellington yesterday. His Excellency, as the Dominion Chief Scout, presided over the conference. The members of the council from all parts of the Dominion attended, including Brigadier-General Andrew, chairman, and Sir Alfred Robin, Wellington District CommissionerHis Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) was also present. In reply to the welcome accorded ‘ him, His Excellency said that any little help he had been able to give the Scout movement had been a labour of love, as he was deeply interested in it. He included in his remarks the Girl Guide movement, because there was no doubt that both were great factors making for the welfare of the Dominion and the progress of the Empire and the world at large. It was a splendid way in which the older men ana women of the land could serve their day and generation. They must, all be impressed, in these davs particularly, with the necessity of keeping a guiding hand on the youth of the community. Must Pull Together. The Scout movement was now a worldwide organisation. In New Zealand they were faced, perhaps, with more difficult übiems in the matter than at Home, where it had become so firmly established. But if they only put their backs into the movement, and pulled together, there was very little doubt .but that the result would be for the great benefit of the Dominion. (Applause.) He had made every effort in his travels to see the Scouts at work, and observe what the district commissioners and Scouters were doing. Ho hoped that in a quiet way he had been able to keep the wheels greased and moving. His Excellency referred to the presence of His Worship the Mayor, whose support of the movement was assured. The great wish of the Scout Council was to work in with the citizens in the matter, and to obtain their co-operation and support. They recognised that the movement to become popular must have public opinion behind it. (Applause.) Mr. Norwood a Supporter. His Worship the Mayor assured the delegates that he was with the movement, and all proposals for advancing the well-being of the youth of the Dominion. He felt it was a good sign when there were so many men willing to devoto their attention to any organisation of the kind. There was no time probably in history when so much attention was being paid to the welfare of the boys and girls as at preaent. He hoped sincerely that their work would be reflected both in the present and the next generation. His Excellency’s sympathy with any movement or the benefit of the young people of the Dominion was deeply appreciated by the citizens. (Applause.) Local Association System a Mistake, The chairman of the Dominion Scout Council, Brigadier-General Andrew, in his annual address dealt at length with the question of the administration of the movement, emphasising the fact that it was quite evident that the local association system, as laid down in the Imperial regulations, had proved a mistake. After considering the reports on the question it had been decided to allow each Scout commissioner io carry on on his own lines, ami as the movement was found to bo improving in a remarkable manner it had been resolved to let well alone for a further twelve months. This view had been endorsed by His Excellency the Dominion Chief Scout. The Isolated Troops. Deeding with the isolated troops of the Dominion, the chairman said:— “There are some sixty troops dotted throughout the Dominion, so far apart and in such remote places as to be quite beyond any form of district government, Those are handled by headquarters. They are my particular children. I try to visit them all at least once a year. This has been made one of the occasions for the (barge against headquarters of too much centralisation. In this particular respect 1 emphatically deny the charge. In truth, my conscience pricks me at times, that in asking Mr. Horner to visit district troops and take, them under his wing, or in asking Mr.'Hughes to do the same, or in asking Mr. Simmons to visit such far away troops as Te Kuiti or Rotorua, I am not already asking more than one can reasonably expect cf men who are busy and have to rarn their living. Our commissioners are not wealthy and leisured men fis they are in England. Get more commissioners, say the critics Quite so. I reply. 1 have just spent four days in Timaru, during which 1 walked between 30 and U) miles seeking a man who will take up the work, but with no luck. 1 have been probing every nook and corner of Invercargill, with the Mayor. Rotarians. Y.M.C.A., and others behind me: but so far no success. For two years I have been struggling to get a commissioner nt Napier - His Excel lency the Governor-General has cheer fully joined in the hunt; but nothing doing yet, and there are still the sixty sountry troops/’ Growth of Scout Movement. General Andrew mentioned that during the .past four years the number of Scouts had grown from 3100 to 8000, which reflected the greatest credit on nil commissioners and Scoutmasters. There had also been a very great increase in the actual Scout work, 5000 more badges having been issued during the year than in the previous year. His Excellency had suggested that patrols should specialise in swimming, the re-is.-iintion of the apparently drowned, in first aid, and also in connection with fire brigade work, and the suggestion would be adopted. Need For Spirit of Loyalty. In conclusion, the chairman emphasised the need to encourage in the boys the spirit of loyalty-loyalty to their God, King, country, and employers. That was the spirit of the Girl Guides, and he had experienced the greatest pleasure in observing the progress of that organisation. Financial Position Stronger. The financial statement, which was presented by Mr. H. Herbert Smith, J.P. (Christchurch), mentioned that the donations for the year amounted to £l6Bl 155., as against <£2645 3s. 6d. in 1925. As the result of stringent economy the financial position was now much stronger The treasurer went on to menlion that “in 1922 accounts were owing amounting to several hundred pounds nnd no funds available to pli.y them and it was at this juncture that Gen eral Andrew, our Chief Commissionei, and Mr. W. T. Chadewuod deputy chairman of the executive came to the rescue and guaranteed an overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand for £5OO to enable a- to pay on) creditors. At this time the position was so bad that lbs Excellency the Governor-General I.ord Jellieoe, the Dominion Chief Scout, con sidered the movement in such danger financially that ho issued a personal appeal to the people of New Zealand to raise the -urn of £5OOO so that the activities of the Boy Scout movement

might be maintained and Its scope extended. Had it not been for the response of the general public on this occasion, the Dominion executive would have had to shoulder the association’s liability themselves, and close the doors of the headquarters office for the Dominion. This state of affairs should never be allowed to recur. However, about this time a change ‘ook place in the government of the movement from headquarters. Our present Hon. Chief Commissioner was appointed, which enabled many changes to be made. A finance committee of capable men was elected, and this committee at once took in hand the thorough reorganisation of the office, and the financial routine was entirely changed, and worked on the most up-to-date system, which is still in force. The result of this committee’s activities is now before you, whereby you will see that wo have a cash balance of X 2046 19s. 7d., and all accounts paid.” « Discipline Needed. In supporting the report Mr. H. Amos (Wellington) said that the progress in the Scout movement in the Wellington district, was largely due to the interest Major-General Sir Alfred hlobiu 'had taken in it. Mr. Amos urged thst attention should be paid to the question of discipline which the boys of the community were very much in need of. tie regretted that the Education Department was not prepared to give the Scout movement a place in the schools. Speaking as a schoolmaster, he feit sure that if the movement found a way into the schools, every headmaster would bless the day. (Hear, hear.) He suggested the issue of a magazine in connection with the work of the Scouts, and offered to assist in the compilation of the same. Captain Sandford referred to the severe tests Scouts had to undergo in order to secure certain badges. The first-class work required in some cases could onlv be forthcoming from some of the very best senior boys. Tn the case of the carpenter’s badge, boys under 15 found the conditions impossible. The report was adopted. Officers Elected, The Bev, W. IL Orbell, Messrs. H. H. Smith, J. I’. and H. S. Goodman were re-elected members of tiie executive committee. Brigadier-General Andrew was also again appointed chairman of the council, amid applause. The following gentlemen were elected members of the council: Messrs. H. A. Innes-Jones, Timaru; H. Clark and A. B. Collier. Hamilton: J. R. Kirk, Gisborne; T. B. Y. Seddon, M.P., Greymouth; and F. Milner C.M.G., Oamaru. The delegates were entertained at luncheon by the Dominion executive, Mr. W. D. Hunt, of the Rotary Club, being also a guest. Brigadier-General Andrew, in welcoming Mr. Hunt, referred to the valuable support the rotary clubs were giving, the movement. The conference concluded with a vote of thanks to the Governor-General for presiding, and the National Anthem.