BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed)

The 2nd. Hokitika Troop have closed down for the Christmas Camp and holidays ami no further meetings "ill be held during the next three or four weeks—the same applies to the Wolf Cut packs. The Christmas season itself, Scouts are expected to spend within their own family circle. On December 27tli. the Hike Party sets out on its eighty mile tramp through the country on each side of the Grey-Westland boundary from which, if all goes well, the boys should return home about January 3th. January Bth.-lltli. will be occupied with the Wolf Cup Camp at Lake Mtihitm’pua, after the return from which .Scouts "ill lie notified of times of future meetings. The work which lies immediately before the troop alter the camps are concluded, is the formation of two new patrols and three now ‘-sixes'’ of Wolf Cubs. The Ist. r I roop will probably bo vcJuly for reevuits about the same time so that there is now an opportunity arriving for boys wishing to be scouts, which is unlikely to repeat itself unless further troops are formed in Hokitika.

Quite a number of the Scouts have been unable to get away for the long camps and it is hoped that those will find good occupation for their leisure as orderlies at the Exhibition. We hope those who enjoy, or wish to enjoy, a good old-fashioned Christinas of Gondiellowsliip of the sort which lias become associated with Dickens "ill recollect that this spirit of mutual good-

will and service for all which many endeavour to capture for a (lay is the all-tlte-yeaf-nmud attitude-of the Boy Scout. ‘•The Scout." wo read, “is a friend to all.” His duty is ‘‘to be useful and to help others.” Exactly how much of the energy now expended on crime and vice might he diverted to tho service of others in a world of grown-up Boy Scouts and Girl Guides ii is impossible t'» estimate but. this “Good Tiini” habit is one well worth cultivating and were even one per cent tv suitable ir.cn to devote one per e, it of their leisure time to the work ot running Scout Troops 11 to result in a single generation would lie overwlielm-

Heie in Hokitika and throughout the Dominion—one might even say throughout. the wm hi the lack of Scoutmasters i- the one obsln"le to complete success. 1921 will sec the sixteenth birthday of the Seoul movement so that ii is both old enough to claim to lie something more than merely “tile latest craze” which v. ill lade out ot public view in a I'c" mouths, and young enough to claim tii,at its Mad possibilities are not yet oven faintly realised.

•Sixteen \ -ill's ago a few odd patrols of bits in odd corners of rural England were ‘'plating” <m their own icsponsibility a new game which was being lineal.cl m a seven-penny fortnightly pul , ieai roll. ’I.Y-day “Sculling; lor Rots” ran ie obtained in any city of the world; there are boy scans to the milliner of nearly a million and a hall smvad ilii'niigimut the British Empire and some t bitty or Inrty loreign lands to say nothing; of an almost equal i.umber and ever more inpidly growing host of Girl Guides and lb-' movement lias lire active public support of soeiaT. u hgioos and ediiealion.d leaders. as "eli as plain irtriots of every part- of the world. ll so loieli can grow from so little m sixteen short years what may net He possible Lorn the present linn foundations in another simdai period? Knnn tli' lir.-i the one difficulty has been li:i- shortage ot “o atmasters. Were that solved the time might quickly come when the year would contain for all 3(73 davs of Christmas goodwill.