BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1921, Page 3

BOY SCOUTS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

i AVELLINGTON, May 25. j The annual conference of the Do- ■ minion Boy Scouts’ Association opened * . to-day. j The Governor-General, Yiscount Jellicoe, who presided ns Chief Scout, * stated it was not only a pleasure, hut * he lelt he was carrying out a duty. "1 1 know so well that this Boy Scout move--1 ment is one of the most important tak- a in<» place in the Empire to-day. One 1 thing more than another that will lead the people of this great Empire in the direction in which there lies not only right hut tneir prosperity is to bring up the young idea, the youth of the Empire, in their duties of citizenship, and citizenship is at the bottom of the whole of the scout training.” It was a source of gratificatin to him to see ’so many prominent citizens from different parts of the Dominion who were going to so much trouble to forward the movement, and "-ho were taking such an interest in the work. He expressed a hope that the conference would be one great; success. The Boy Scout movement depended for its success upon the self-sacrifice ol those who devoted their time and money to it. No words could express the admiration he felt, whies he was sure was felt by everybody in the Empire, for the public spirit shown by all associated with the movement. They were :-li entitled to the gratitude of the citizens. “I do prav, ’ he said, •‘that this movement in the Dominion will he the greatest possible success Loyalty, the well-known loyalty of New Zealand, is one of the causes which will bring 10 the Boy Scut movement a success as great as, I hope, or even greater, than ir any other part of the British Empire. I feel assured success is coming. ’ Tn conclusion, his Excellency stated that lie felt it a very great honour to he associated with the movement in his position as Chief Scout if the Dominion. (Applause J The annual report referred to the great revival in scouting. I The financial statement- showed a- 1 credit balance of £1244. The chairman of the executive (Bri- - gadicr-Genernl Andrew) expressed a de- j sire for the extension of the movement, j He said that Scouts could assist in the prevention of forest fires, and help generally in the Government’s new forestry operations. He stressed the fact that now that the Scout- organisation was a military movement, the sum of £2500 : per annum horn outside sources was : required > nnunllv. Tt was urgently;' necessary, in the interests of the organisation. that £SOOO should he raised every year. ! The suggested scheme of reorganisation was adopted. j