BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1923, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(.Contributed). This is likely to he a busy week-end for the local Scouts and Cubs as in addition to the entertainment, which the boys are giving on Friday evening at All Saints’ Schoolroom there is to be a special week-end training camp for patrol leaders and seconds at Kuniara Reach. Rehearsals have heen going on vigorously all the week, and as nearly all the camp party are taking purl in one or more items of the entertainment, preparations for the camp have had to take a hack seat. However, the majority of those eligible will intend, some of the more ener-

getic planning an all-night tramp out after their performances on the stage are completed. About a dozen of the Greynunilh scouts tire also due to attend the camp, till- probably being the first official meeting of scouts from the two tow ns, -ince the W ar—not that the War had anything to do with the matter 1

Ihe following week-end. Dec. kith -—loth. the 2nd. Hokitika Troop are

holding a week-end camp near the beach south of the river, at which it is hoped to work oil certain iulerpatrnl eonte-is between the Moroporks

and Kttkiis. Alter lliut only ten days will remain for preparations for the SO mile hike rump of the two troops which I- the chief local scout expedition of the year. Only about AO per cent, of tin* strength of either troop are able to attend, and although many obstacle.-, such as family reunion.-. the work of those employed in shops etc., are natural to the season of the year and diflieulL to obviate, yet the fact remain- that a proportion are kepL awav through the nervousness of parents. New Zealand has been called ihe safest ramping ground in the world, and certainly the Coast at the i v>e>it time i- ideally suitable for tor scout camps. It, is a pity that is not understood that in ali essentials a boy iticttially safer living according to rule and time-table in camp w ith his si mil comrades than lie might be in the immediate vainly of his home with unlimited leisure to dispose of. In this cunilccton it. is worth noting that tie-re are very definite rules with regard to scout- swimming and boating. No scout, a- stub, is allowed alloar till be has passed a swimming test, and l-albing is only allowed under supervision with a lite-saving party, ready on duty all the while the remainder are in the water. In addition to this, it is the scout practice to “pair oil- for swimming each pair of chums being responsible lor keeping an eye mi each other throughout. Most aeiidents in the water occur win'll bulbing alone, or in so lag a party that the difficulties of an individual may be overlooked. Similarly, other probable dangers ale guarded against in a scout camp, ami it is merely to be hoped that further experience of scout methods will encourage parents in the lulurc to support, the-e events more thoroughly.