BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1925, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS

(Contributed), Whenever the health regulations per-

mit, the 2nd. Hokitika Troop and Pack will resume tho time-table in use last year, the Scouts meeting at 7.0 p.in. ( and the Cubs at 4.0 p.m. on Tuesdays, as well as the usual meetings and camps at week ends;., 1 . Tn the ease of the Scouts, things are < rather urgent as there is a very large amount of preparation for the Dunedin Jamboree which cannot he left to the i last few months if Hokitika is to be ; worthily represented at this historical ( gathering. In this connection when details of the Jamboree become widely known, there will probably he the usual 1 last-minute rush of applications to take : part and it is necessary to emphasise tho fact that with all the will in the world, it will he impossible to include boys who come forward after our local party has got properly into its rehearsals and other preparations. The experience of a fortnight in camp with some thousands of brother scouts irom every part of the Dominion, and it ihoped from Australia, and possibly England as well, will not recur within the boyhood of any of our local scouts. It is this aspect, even more than flicJamboree itself, (be visit to the great Exhibition, or the opportunity of a trip so far afield, that should appeal to parents. If anyone interested will write to the scoutmaster of the 2nd. I l oop now it may save the hoy being unavoidably refused a place later on when the Jamboree has received a fuller share of publicity. In this connection a quotation from the I nter-Univorsity Scout Quarterly is of some interest. As an old Scout writing to boys. I be* writer tolls t-bom of the wonderful gatherings at Wembley and Copenhagen, and points out what is the secret of it all. ‘What on earth.” he asks, “made all these hoys, from every country miner the sun. talking every imaginable language. want to come together as though they belonged Lo one wmool--Again, you know what a Inemlly leclii,7r there is at your troop meetings, • iiul in camp. How does it happen? Ol course, our secret is simply the Seoul Law—that’s all. All 1 want to say to von is don’t think the Scout Law is jus. a form which gives the game ol ,-woutirirr a respectable overcoat, ft is Hie thing which keeps this Scout I.umiicss going all over the world. H is the thin" that, means ready-made inomO for von all over the world, and the on - ward sign of .vour promise is that Utile brass bill ton-hole badge. ''■‘'H’ •' oul promise and wear your badge. It is a strange thing, in a countiy where patriotism and manliness are held in such regard, that scouting should he making such comparatively slow progress Outside the movement itselt it Fs most rare to find, even among other- ■ wise, well-informed folk, one who has any sort of notion as to what we aie about. Even the rare parent who is not content to leave his child's lutiire to the influence of the modern craze lor amusement in any form and at any cost, who docs to some extent enter into his son’s boyish interests, is astonished mid incredulous when it is brought homo to him that here in the Scout Movement is to he found all that eager enthusiasm and ardour for the highest things, and that, gay-hearted joy ot servile," which we are inclined t" think “I as having gone out of lushimi 'Mi“ King Arthur.