SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1930, Page 16

SCOUT NOTES

(By "8.A.M.")

The Dominion executive last Thursday unanimously decided to revert, to the use of the Imperial policy, organisation, and rules, to apply to Scouting in New Zealand. A few additional instructions to certain of the rules to meet local conditions will be printed on slips to paste into the Imperial rules, which permit of such local variation.

These local. instructions explain that: — (1) A Metropolitan Commissioner ia the equivalent of a County Commissioner in the Home Rules. (2) Duties o£ Troop Committees. (3) Camps. (4) Correspondence. (5) Lone troops to be linked «p under the nearest District Commissioner. (6) Use of Dominion haka and other welcomes to visitors. (7) Rewards; New Zealand five-year medal continued in addition to the order of merit rewards. (8) The badge standard.to be the same as the Imperial P.O.K. The Commissioner for Training will advise where necessary to introduce knowledge o£ New Zealand trees, foliage, insects, birds, geological, and star studies, etc., in place of or in conjunction with the English requirements. What we, in New Zealand, have termed metropolitan or district committees will be the equivalent of local associations described in Imperial rules. New Zealand troop committees will continue and be read along with group committees. The Imperial designation "group" will, apply to any one, or all of three sections, namely, Rover Crew, Scout Troop, and Wolf Cub Pack, which together form a full group under a Group Scoutmaster. Further, a few groups combined will form a district, with a District Commissioner and district officers. Two or more districts numbering at least twenty troops will form a metropolitan area, under a Metropolitan Commissioner, with deputy | camp chiefs for wood and akela as required. This organisation wa9 approved in November last for New Zealand, the whole working in gradation and harmony I with Dominion Headquarters, with a Chief Commissioner, Dr. P. C. Fenwick, C.M.G., V.D, as the representative of Imperial Headquarters in New Zealand, forming a Dominion staff for training and instruction, and a staff for general administration purposes, for the purpose of decentralising the duties and responsibilities. At present the Metropolitan District Commissioners are Mr. W. J. Holds worth, for the Auckland area; Sir Alfred Robin, K.C.M.G., C.8., for the Wellington area; and Mr. W. V. Meek, for the Duuedin area. It is hoped that Mr. VV. 11. Mont-: gomery, District Commissioner for Little ] River, may be available to become Metropolitan Commissioner for the Christchurch area. The Chief Scout gives the following explanation of the thanks badge. "On the stole of an ancient Bishop of Winchester, Edyndon, who died in 136 C, is the Swastika or Scouts thanks badge. It was at that time called the "Flyfot," and was said to represent obedience or submission, the different arms of the cross being in reality legs in the attitude ot kneeling. But this symbol was used in almost every pact of the world in ancient days, and therefore has various meanings given to it. It has been found engraved on weapous belonging to the Norsemen. It was also engraved on the spindles used by the ancient Greeks in their weaving at Troy. In India rice is spread on the ground in the form of a. swastika at the baptism of a baby boy to bring I)im luck. The Red Indians in North America use it as an ornament, and'it has been found engraved on ancient pottery in Peru. How it got from one country to another, separated as they are by oceans, it is dimcult to guess, but some people who say they know all about these things, affirm that there was once a great continent where now is the Atliintic Ocean, but it went under the sea in an earthquake. This continent was called Atlantis, and joined up Europe and America. It was supposed to have four vast rivers running from a central mountain in different directions—north, east, south, and west—and the swastika is merely a map of Atlantis showing these rivers rising from the same centre. Anyway, whatever its origin was, the swastika now stands for the badge of fellowship among Scouts all over the world, . and when anyone has done a kindness to a ■ Scout it .is their privilege to present him (or her) with this token of their gratitude, which makes him a sort of member of the brotherhood, and entitles him to the help of any other Scout at any time and at any place. A reminder is given to Scouts to keop their eyes, open and never fail to "spot" anyone wearing this badge. It is their duty then to go up to such a person-, make the Scout sign, and ask it they can be of any service to the wearer. Several instances of where Scouts have done this have come under A resident ■of Wellington, listening in on Sunday, heard the announcer at Oakland, California, say that to-day was the ■anniversary of the Scouts, and that Mr. M'Donald, the secretary of the Troop, had a message for all .American Scouts listening in. Mr. M'Donald spoke for several minutes, and made mention of thu Scout law, but, unfortunately for the listener-in, a motor-car stopped outside with its engine running full' on. Should any Scouts be interested in radio, there is a series of very interesting tests ol_ short-wave telephony round about 35 metres going on just now between New York, London, and the liner Olympic, and also between Sydney " and London, sometimes with Holland and Java, usually about 25 to 28 metres; also on 18 metres. Ono of the. American stations is often iv communication with the Arctic an ad Antarctic, and there is also a station which comes in excellently, that is, W3XAL, Bound Brook, New Jersey, U.S.A., on 49.81 metres. . The Commissioner for the 'Hill district advises that the Ngaio Troop had thenopening meeting on Friday , night, when twenty-four Scouts and twelve Cubs were present to welcome their new Scoutmaster (Mr. W. F. Fink), who has had considerable' experience in Scouting in the Homeland, graduating right through the ranks. A full attendance of the Troop Committee, together with several parents who were present, augurs well for the success of this'year's- activities. ■ The Kaiwarra Troop, with h.M. W. l>Halcox as Acting-Scoutmaster, commenced their meetings on Thursday last. Advice has just come to hand that Scoutmaster Elder Benson, of the Ponrua .Maori Troop, has recently undergone v serious operation. All Scouters and Scouts will wish him a speedy recovery. The V M.C.A. Troop commenced operations oil Tuesday night. Scouter A. Meachen, of the Jamboree party, with \S M Davies and Lawson. late of Auckland, as assistants, has taken over the troop, and great things are expected in Scouting this coming year.Notes for insertion in this column must reach P.O. Box C 24 by first mail Monday morning. ... , ~ During the course of his report to the Group Committee of the Petone fecouts last week, the Group-Scoutmaster expressed appreciation of the assistance given by Mr- M J Burdan, who annually lends his'magnificent property, St. Albaus, for the purpose of camping. Sheltered by beautiful trees, well watered, yet absolutely secure against all forms of bad weather, it is a site second to none in the Dominion. "It is a privilege to have the use of such a place, and the officers are proud of the confidence the owner hne iv the boys. Many interesting trips were run duving this year's camp. Cubs, Scouts, Rovers, and committee all participated. Sir Alfred Robin and Mr. Amos visited the camp, and expressed their delight with all they saw, and a visitors' day was thoroughly enjoyed by some fifty people. A huge bonfire of old swamp totara roots celebrated the arrival .of tie New Year. The Petone Group are grateful to the Wairarapa Scouts for the sympathy expressed last week, and arc glad to report that, although on occasions the dews were heavy, the only "washout" or "blowout" reported was in another camp six miles up the valley. They wish 'to express their keen delight that the noise of the kerosene tins floating away woke Q.M. Robinson at the Wairarapa camp, and thus enabled Wairarapa's cookhouse to be salvaged.