BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1930, Page 2

BOY SCOUTS

DOMINION COUNCIL. ANNUAL MEETING. WELLINGTON, November 19. The annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Boy Scouts was held today, Dr. P. C. Fenwick (Christchurch) presiding. Dr. Fenwick said tbe executive had been strengthened by the inclusion of the Coirifnissioners of the four large centres. The appointment of a Metropolitan Commissioner was a step forward, and it was his ambition that every District Commissioner might extend his activities until he had twenty troops under his Care, and became a Metropolitan Commissioner.

Commissioner’s Address

i “I think that when you have read the reports from our Commissioners you Will agree that we have had a satisfactory year, and that real progress ha 9 been made,” said Dr. Fenwick. “The Dominion executive has been strengthened by the inclusion of Commissioners from the four large oentres. This is a groat advantage, as it means that we are in close touch with every part .of the Dominion and every point requiring adjustment can be made without delay. The of Commissioner Sandfovd as our Training Commissioner has brought the country centres into close connexion with Headquarters, and as I am unable to visit all the scouting centres myself, T feel that no centre can now feel neglected. The appointment of) Metro* p'olitan Commissioners is another step forward, and it is my ambition that every District Commissioner' may extend liis activities until he has 20 troops, under his care and becomes a Metropolitan Commissioner. During this year we have had several valuable round-table conferences, nt which the Commissioners from Auckland, Welling, ton and Dunedin attended. T must express my thanks to these gentlemen for their unselfishness in coming from long distances to help us in deciding several important matters. Rules. “The question of rules was a momentous one, and was. T am glad to say, settled finally and without any trouble. I circularised every Commissioner, asking him to decide on three questions. These were:—‘Do you wish to work under the New Zealand rules, under the Imperial P.O.R. with amended rules to suit local conditions?’ The answers to this circular were very emphatic. Almost unanimously the Commissioners voted to serve under Imperial P.O.R. with amended rules to suit local conditions. These were drawn up by the full Dominion Executive, at which our four Metropolitan Commissioners were present, and were sent to London for comment by the Chief Scout. They have now received the approval of the Chief Scout, and I trust that the ques. tion of rules will not prove of any future trouble, The New Zealand Sea Scout Handbook was also sent Home, and we have received approval of this book, which, as you know, was compiled with the help of Lord Jellicne,- who was then Dominion Chief Scout, and who paid for the first issue pf the hook. The minor questions of Sea Cubs and Sea Scout uniform for officers will be settled by this conference. It has been emphasised in our rules as in the P.O.R. that Sea and Land Scputs are one brotherhood, and no difference of opinion should ever occur between these two sections of Scouts,

Visit of Chief Scout, “The impending visit of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide is giving us all much satisfaction, The New Zealand Government has generously agreed to provide railway and motor transport and, to my great pleasure, has also promised to place Mr Ardell in charge of the transport arrangements, The programme of the rallies is limited to the four centres. I tried very hard to persuade the Chief Scout to attend a rally at Palmerston North, but he has decided that this would entail too much extra fatigue, so we must abandon this. J know that each Metropolitan Commissioner will arrange a rally worthy of his town, and it is a groat pleasure to us ajl that the Girl Guides are participating in these rallies. My executive have decided that I should accompany the Chief during his tour, nnd I have accepted this duty, as T feel that I may he able tp save him fatigue, Loyal Service, “To the members of the executive I wish to express my personal thanks for their very loyal and unselfish service during the past year, I wish to thank all Commissioners for their work in their districts —n work which the future will prove to have been of great service to New Zealand. To all Scoutmasters and officers I express my gratitude for the way in which they have served. Without these officers, the Scouts could not exist, and T only wish that their numbers could be quadrupled. There are many hundreds of boys in New Zealand who would gladly become Scouts; but, alas, very few young men care enough for their country to give up their time to serve as Scoutmasters. I think if the young men realised what real good they could do to New Zealand by helping to train the New Zealand hoy to become a good citizen we should have many more volunteers. I think that everyone who cares for this beautiful oountrv must he anxious that those who follow us shall be good men, worthy of their heritage. I can conceive no better wav of training the young people of to-day to grow up into good men and women

than the lessons that are taught in the Boy Scouts’ and Girl Guide movement. When we reflect that the Scouts of today will be the rulers of to-morrow, it is a matter of pride to be connected with the great work which is being done so quietly and so efficiently among the children of New Zealand. A Good Motto. “In conclusion, 1 am anxious to lay before this conference one ambition ‘Once a Scout, always, a Scout’ is a good motto, but I would like to make, this an ambition more than a platitude. I feel that when a Scout passes out of his troop, we should not lose sight of him. I know that his training will have a good effect on his whole future life, but 1 earnestly wish that we could keep in touch with him. M.v idea is that when a hoy is too old for a troop or Rover, bo should have an opportunity of joining a Dominion' Scout Association, that, we should try to help each boy to find the work that is best suited to bis character: that we should take a deep interest in his future that every Scout should know that he belongs to a great brotherhood the bonds of which are not loosened when he passes out o' - his troop.” General. Captain J. R. Kirk, of Gisborne, was elected chairman of the Council for 1930-31. It was decided that the English medal for merit would be awarded to all Scouts as provided in English policy organisation and rules.