BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1929, Page 3

BOY SCOUTS

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADDRESS

WELLINGTON, August 5

At the iScouts rally on Saturday afternoon the Goveqiqr-Goneral in the course of. an address said:— “We are here to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the boy scouts. The movement dates back to the beginning of 1908. In the first three months of that year . Sir Robert Baden-Powigll ,published in a. series of pamphlets Iris idea of the bov scout movement, and in May of that year the first edition of his ‘Scouting for Boys’ was published in book form and the first scouts were enrolled. That movement has grown during those twenty-one years and extender! not only to the boys of the whole world, but also to the girls. The girl guides will have thoir birthday in a year or two.”

His Excellency went on to say that from those small beginnings there bad grown up an army of scouts and cubs—nearly (two inillioif—and also girl guides, whom, lie believed, to be the same strength. “That is,” H' s Excellency said, “two million hpys and two million girls, pledged to do their duty to God and the King, to help other people, and at. all times to olie.v the scout law-—a law that comprises all the qualities that go to make up good citizenship. Not only are there those millions today, but the hundreds and hundreds of thousands who have passed through the ranks during the past 21 years. Truly it is a very wonderful movement. Today 'I think our thoughts must be with that great man who had the conception of founding this great, brotherhood and sisterhood, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, who lias brought the movement up to that wonderful position it has attained.”

THE NEED FOR. LOYALTY

“Be proud of your organisation,” •His Excellency said, as he proceeded to make a plea for loyalty to the spirit of the Scout and Guide law. “Remember its reputation lies in the hands of each' one of you, remember your promises, and remember the spirit of the] Scout and Guide law. You do not obey that law for hope of reward, for fear of pfuiishment; you obey that law because it is the right tiling to do. That law is binding on every one of you—from the officers of the movement down to the youngest cub. Only one thing can do this , organisation harm or break it up ; that .is to forget the spirit of it—loyalty, service, discipline and self-control. My appeal to you, from top to bottom,, from officers to the cubs and brownies, is to keep up discipline. Otherwise the movement will break up. I want you -Scouts and Guides to go away ip pride, holding up your beads that you belong -to this great movement, which extends 4 to every country in the world.” Sir Charle.s Fergusson mentioned that some 60,000 scouts were assembled together at Home, and that a few hours previously. they had been addressed Iby the Prince of Wales. The Prince, lie said, had delivered a messag* to them from the King. His Excellency then read the message from the King. "That, Scouts and Guides-,” said the Governor-General, after reading the message, “is tlie message from tlio King. Although given to the gathering at Home, it is given just as much to you from His Majesty the King.” In conclusion, His Excellency congratulated Sir Alfred Robin and liis officers on the, progress made by the Scout movement in the Wellington district. “The growth of the movement,” he said, “has been wonderful. Don’t let it go down. I- want to congratulate the Guidos for coming here to-day to celebrate tlieir brothers’ birthday. 1 wish the movement every success and prosperity. (Applause.) Cheers were then given for His Excellency and Her Excellency.