BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed). The suggestion, made at the meeting held Inst week to welcome General Andrew, that the two lucid Troop Com-' mittees should unite into one body seems to have met with only partial approval from the parents of the hoys. Will those who have decided opinions on the subject -please note that the matter will he finally settled at the next ‘ meeting |of the two committees. These take - place at the regular times fixed, the Ist. Troop at the end of the month and the 2nd. at the beginning of November. Obviously the plan can only succeed with the full consent of the. two bodies concerned, and, with u large amount of business awaiting attention in each troop, it will ho well to dispose of the matter definitely olio way or the other with as little delay as possible. The 2nd. Troop's cycle expedition to the Wiiiln* in the New Year is now being dealt with in detail. The last fortnglit in January will probably he the period selected and by dividing the journey into easy sections it is hoped not only to avoid all danger of over fatigue hut to preserve time and energy to appreciate the country on route. It would surprise the people of other ,parts of New Zealand to know what a small proportion of Hokitika children have ever been further than Ross, and even of those who have, what a very Few have soon a glacier n’t close quarters.

It would seem to savour almost of hypocrisy, c*V at the least ol a lack of local patriotism, that wejire content to spend money in advertising the unique scenic wonders we are foftunatc to have at our doors, while ’neglecting to convert our own fill lire citizens into adevrtising agents who can speak with authority. And .even apart from local interests, the educational value of a trip such as that planned would .lie immense. Visitors who make the journey South by ear taking only a few hours, all come hack with the same story of (lazzloment due to the concentration of so inueh worth seeing in so short a trip, and there is no doubt that, given voutli and energy, the old fashioned push-hike has all the advantage, where one wishes not merely to see. hut to appreciate Nature.

When to this is added the glamour of adventure and hapny comradeship which are the outstanding features of the scout camp, it will lie seen that the journey made possible for the hoys of this troop should provide a holiday as near the ideal ns this world is likely to provide. We might add that the cost will probably work out at a little less than would he required to “keep” the hoys at their own homes for the same period, and that scout camps are never mere idle holidays,,but real times of training in character and manliness. The natural fears of nervous parents are also being met hv the provision, of satisfactory shelter at each halting place, strict mad discipline in hilly districts, life-saving picouots at all bathing rallies, a. first-aid outfit, and the enforcement of all those rules of health to teach which, is one of the chief purposes of scout camps/ Naturally, if all this is to he done in a practical manner, a lot of preparation is necessary beforehand, and papers are now in circulation explaining the necessity for definite decision at once as to whether the parents concerned intend their hoys to take part. Nothing was more disappointing last year than the large proportion of hoys who failed to attend the f.ake llniuner, hike, and a good deal of subsequent failure can he traced to this cause. Tt is to he hoped that no parent will this year refuse his consent without going carefully into the matter with the Committee and Scoutmasters concerned. It would also he a good idea if any parents who contemplate a trip south themselves this summer would consider the possibility of making it while the scouts were on their.expedition.