BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1925, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS

(Contributed). It i.s hoped to hold a meeting next week of the two committees which are respectively responsible for the First and Second Hokitika Troops of Ray Scouts ' and W'o'f Cubs. This joint meeting has been in the air for more than six months, and a large number of questions have aceinnnlat ed. the discussion of which should be for the good of the Scout Movement iu the town. The term "Troop" needs a certain amount of explanation. The troop i.s the scout unit for organisation, and consists of two or more patrols (the patrel of six or eight hoys being the unit for active scout work and play. - the team in fact.) v, ith Wolf Cul-s and Rovers if such exist. Each troop is managed by its own committee of local citizens and works under an adult s-outmnsicr and his assistants. When the “Second" troop was founded a little more than eighteen months ago. the then Scoutmaster of the “First" troop was most enthusiastic over the extra opportunities that the friendly rivalry of the two units "a.s likely io prodire. and the new troop lias to thank their elder hrethers for a whole series of good turns in their early days, including at the start the h'sni of their mooting place. Lately, however, although the la'outm,asters by frequent meetings for discussion have taken care to avoid a ii arrow view of their work, it lias hern found difficult to ensure that energy i.- not' wasted hy the lack of knowledge of one committee eoneeniing what is being attempted by the oilier. A partial i ure has been toiiml ill the fact that the present chairman of the “Recond" committee is also a member of the other, and possibly l, this arrangement could he made ivriprnral. the problem could he solved. In larger centres a body called a “Local Assoi'jati' in" looks after this matter of co-operation hut the Dominion Headquarters of The movement consider Hokitika too small a Scout District for such a body to he funned here. It is understood, lion ever, there would he no objection Hi small joint committee druv n (rum the two troops being given the task of ensuring lull co-operation.

Resides this somewhat dry though not unimportant quesion i I organisation. the meeting will have to decide "bother Hokitika shall be represented at the Dunedin .Jamboree by a combined or two separate parlies, ami it should a.1.-o he aide to help fet lard that whelisalo progress ol the Scout movement in the town "Inch has been inclined to i h don n during lbe last six months.