OLD SCOUTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 9

OLD SCOUTS

ASSOCIATION FORMED

LORD GALWAY'S INTEREST

The movement to link past and present members of the Scouting movement by the formation of a national Old Scouts' Association received a decided impetus when his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, attended a dinner ?' the Horticultural Hall, Lower Hutt, last evening. In addition to his Excellency, who was there as Chief Scout, there were about 150 Scout leaders, ex-Scouts, and supporters of the movement. The object of the gathering was to launch a national movement, linking together any old Scouts' associations and similar bodies already in existence in. tha Dominion.

His Excellency said that the idea of making the movement a national one was excellent. During the 28 year* of its existence in New Zealand the Boy Scout movement had achieved a very satisfactory membership, but he would like to see it ' double or treble its present strength. The work done had been a power for real good in the community," and lads at an early, age had been imbued with' a sense of responsibility, nationhood, and the im«» portance of good citizenship.

"In 1940," continued his Excellency, "we are going to have here in New Zealand a great Scout jamboree* at which representative Scouts from a great many overseas countries will be present, and will have an opportunity of forming their impressions of New Zealand, its people, and specially of the Scout organisation in this country. It goes without saying that it the jamboree is going to be the success we hope it will be, a great deal of extra assistance will have to be forthcoming. So with this immediate aim I appeal to all old Scouts to rally round the Old Scouts' Association. Enthusiasm must be the keynote of the movement.

"In some countries on the Continent the Boy Scout movement has been developed into a really national movement and a movement which plays a real part in the life of the people. So, in making an appeal for public support for the movement in New Zealand, I make a special appeal to all Scouts when they complete their term to join the Old Scout movement with a firm resolve that they are going to do all in their power in Scout interests and so to play their part as good citizens who have at heart the welfare of their country.

"I am informed that there are approximately 150,000 old Scouts in the Dominion. This is a very large number. If all old Scouts got. together they would form a very powerful organisation to lend strong support to matters put forward by the Boy Scout Association and to co-operate with other organisations seeking to promote the heaith and welfare of the youth of the nation." If the new development was accepted as part of the national life of.the Dominion, its value could hardly be overstated, remarked Commissioner J. E. F. Vogel. His Excellency, by helping to launch the association, had made them realise how deeply he had the interests of Scouting at heart