BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed). 'Moving up itmi down tlie country during the holiday .season one cannot but notice, even here on lhe Coast, beginnings uf that spirit of vandalism which seems syndxdic oi the tounsmau enjoying tie.- beauties o! natuie. Although far from the state to which Hampstead Heath or hipping Forest after i London ‘“Batik Holiday," yet I picnic parties seldom leave their camping grounds anything the better lot their visit, and it is a little hard lor the poetical soul to rise to the height of “Monarch of all I survey," and to fully appreciate the glories of bush, hike and mountains when the foreground consists chiefly of empty bottles, banana skins. wind tossed newspapers and the marks ef absurdly largo bonfires. Worse still, perhaps, it the spirit which moves tome to carve I their names on giants of the lore.st, to uproot large tree-ferns in order to measure their height ami to misus-* J their knife or axe on the best of the . live timber of the neighbourhood. j Apart from their training in tidying . camp sites after use (which is sum- j marised !>v ila* Chief Scout is the in- J struction: "When you leave camp j I,,aye two things t/oliiml you. viz. G* i Nothing ;CM Your thanks." Scouts j should soon lie able to accept a definite share in looking after the beauty spot 1 - of this part of W’estland. Anyone who will trouble to rise bel'or* the scavengers on a Sunday morning and wan. across Cass Square will have an object lesson as to what we may expect. Lake Mahinapua or the Frau/, dosed glacier to look like when the scenic attractions of Westland become centres for pilgrimages of a really worthy character. The scout training is a definite protest against this altitude, flint it is everyone's right to throw rubbish about, but no one’s duty to pick it. up except at good wages, ami it has proved itself to hr a protest that reaches the heart of those who come under its influence. When the local tioops arc properly equipped with adult “.''routers" and the boys have had time to pass beyond the tenderfoot stage, it is hoped to find a different spirit growing up in the town-—even a bundled citizens of the future should not he altogether without influence oil public opinion, hut, in this, as in everything else, full success will have to wait until the ladies get busy. Now Zealand appears to have been ihe first country in the world to organise girl scouts, and it is curious that a company of girl guides is still lacking in Hokitika. Among the scouts’ sisters alone are plenty ol would-be recruits, and even if it is true that in this industrious centre there is no man who can answer the hoys’ urgent cry for leadership with the sacrifice of an hour or tuo of weekly leisure, it is hard to believe that, the proverbially Tonder-ihearted and unselfish sex are in a. similar position! Mr Seward. South Spit, is anxious that lasi week's note t- Ihe effect that he will be pleased to bear from wouldbe helpers or those interested in the formation of a patrol of Rovers (age 17 and over) Wall be repealed Hus