BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 6

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT

HANDICRAFT AND HOBBIES MANY STRIKING EXNIIITS There are probably still some folk—* those with uninquiring minds—who think that the activities of the Boy, Scouts comprise nothing more than dodging around the outskirts of the city with a few pals and a scoutmaster, doing a bit of amateur black-trackers* work. Those folk should seize the opportunity of visiting the Pioneer Hall to-night or to-morrow, when they will be truly astonished at the variety and excellence of the work that is being shown at the annual hobbies and handicraft exhibition organised by the Dunedin metropolitan district of the Boy Scouts’ Association. • Here are set out hundreds of exhibits of articles collected or made by Wolf Cubs and Scouts. The Cubs, it may, be explained, are boys between the ages of eight and II years, while Scouts are those between II and 17 years of age. In the former class are examples of work under the headings of artist, collector, cook, handyman, and homecraft, and the articles vary from collection* of cigarette cards to really striking Meccano working models; from a chocolate paper picture on glass and a, collection of leaves from native trees Vto'» woollen rug worked on canvas. Scones, pikelets, and sweets are included in the cookery division, and certainly look good enough to eat. In the senior division the exhibits are, naturally, more striking in their completeness • of manufacture. The basketware, for instance, is splendidly done, as are the utensils in the carpentry section, / while the engineering models are worthy of the highest praise, and the home-made radio sets are surprisingly good. There are, of course, exhibits of tramping gear—tents, maps, boots, billies, and sleeping bags complete—as well as models of bridges, signalling towers, and a Scout camp. Indeed, the whole exhibition, which will be officially opened to-night by th* president of the association (Sir Percy Sargood), and continued to-morrow; afternoon and evening, is unquestionably interesting and well worthy of attention by the general public. It is of interest to note that th* strength of the Boy Scout movement in the Dunedin district is at present practically 1,500 Cubs, Scouts, and Rovers. The Scout organisation is playing a definite part at the present time in the national war effort. So far, 40 scoutmasters have enlisted and are already overseas or undergoing training in military camps in the Dominion. Those who are too young—as the vast majority of them are too young—for enlistment in war service are being encouraged in their spare time to look for jobs that arise out of the war conditions and are voluntarily performed* For this purpose war work record card* have been issued to them, and a badge or award will be given to those among them who put their hearts into the discharge of this task. The Scout law, which every Scout and Rover Scout' promises to obey is based on the ancient laws of King Arthur’s knights, and embraces the following principles: —(1) A Scout’s honour is to be trusted. (2) A Scout is loyal to the King, hi* country, his Scouters, his parents, hi* employers, and to those under him. (3) A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others. (4) A Scout is a friend of all and a brother to every other, Scout, no matter to what country, class, or creed the other belongs. (5) A Scout is courteous. (6) A Scout is a friend to animals. (7) A Scout obeys orders. (8) A Scout smiles and whistles under all (9) A Scout is thrifty,(10) A Scout is clean in word, and deed.