BOY SCOUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1932, Page 6

BOY SCOUTS

MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

STANDARD •OF EFFICIENCY

LONDON, March 30.

In the annual report of the Boy Scouts’ Association, mention is made, of Lord liaden-Umyell’s visit to New Zealand. In his report on the Dominions tlie Child Scout says he was agreeably .surprised at the jCneral standard in numbers and efficiency which reflect the highest credit on the Scouteris and those who have carried on the administration and executive work. Thii various rallies were particularly successful and valuable in bringing together the majority of the Scouts'ln each State, so that hoys from the distant backblocks came into touch with theii*f brotherscouts of other localities and were, tlius able to realise something of thefvast Brotherhood ..to which they belong, picking up usOjul ideas fresh enthusiasm and no" friendships. A remarkable feature was the very large and enthusiastic attendance of the public'' On onc ' occasion over 45,000 were estimated to be present, and on several occasions over 30,000. In New Zealand the Chief was much impressed by the remarkable pluck h n d Scout spirit which had been displayed during and after the earthquake by the Scouts generally in the deva steel' ‘area. . “They kept their head in that appalling catastrophe,” lie writes, Valid set to work individually on their own initiative everywhere to render first-aid, extricate the injutptl, rig shelter, cook food, take charge of children and property, and to make themselves’ useful in every kind <>l way. The instinct for service prompted them to sink every thought cf self.” Unfortunately Stouter and, three Scoijts lost ; their lives. The Chief concludes this -report by saying that lie feels the movement lias turned over a new leaf, and that it is sound and on rights lines within and has support and sympathy from without. P RO.FICI ENC Y BA DO ES. During the year (says the report) all the Scout proficiency badges have been scrutinised, and where necessary brought up-to-date. The revised tests> which will appear in the 1932 edition of “Policy, Organisation, and Rules,” will hot- he altered-;lliitil 1937, except in those cases where progress in that particular subject makes a change imperative to keep pace with new developments. The most gratifying feature of the figures for 1931 is the further large increase in the number of Cub officers. Whereas in? 1918 there were *22 boys to ouch officer, there are now but 12,' with the result that the individual training for each boy, to which so much 'importance is attached in the Scout -• ! 'MovoinenL, a Js. made readily available. I.dririri.

- death of Mr .Mortimer LriS'Mf .'President aid International Commissioner of tiie Bov Scouts of America. Not only was he : a constant find generous benefactor toivtlie- Sc.outr bis own country, but he S ave lc whole of the money for the purchase of our camping ground at Kanderstog and was the munificent donor of £lO,000 which forms our International I' riendfiliip Fund. His memory "ill live long in the hearts of thousands of Scouts. DKVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Formed in May, 1930, the Development Department has now completed the first full year of its existence. Work has continued on the, lines described in last year’s report and useful progress has been made. ,i ; ’Plie representation of the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts’ Association before the Youth Committee of the Lanibeth Conference was followed by a coiffurence, arranged at the instance of certain Bishops, between Bishops nominated by the Archbishop of Canterbury 1 and representatives of both Associations. This was followed in October of this year (and therefore not actually in tin; year under review) by a similar conference with representatives of the English Free Clmrelies. These conferenees considered such important matters as weekend camping, the use of the “Scouts’ Own,” the relative advantages of

“open” and “controlled’’ groups and the provision of siune permanent link between County Commissioners ami the Church authorities within the county boundaries. It is intended to give ell'oct to the recommendations o! these "conferences as soon as possible. .Meanwhile, the necessity for co-opera-tion between the Churches and the Scout movement is being more widely recognised and discussed throughout the eoiMir.v. which is Ihe first step towards making it elfecTive. 'Pile Religious Panel, relerred to in last year’s report, is now in being and is proving its worth. It is composed of representatives ol the Church ol England,,..Church of Scotland, Homan Catholic Church, tlie Wesleyan, Prim-, ilive ami United Methodists, the' Congregational Union, the Baptist I niou. and of.,.the Jeiiish faith. The next twelve mouths will "be a time, of further elfort to improve the Seoutor, .within the limits of the price of 3d ; various experts ha ve agreed that the. quality of the paper, printing. and subject matter render the periodical already ol considerably higher, financial value than the 3d charged, and have expressed dmiht as to whether its continuance on such lines is • a sound limuicial proposition. 'Pile present .net ei reii la I ion is stationary near the figure of 26.00') monthly, and .in view ol the numbers shown hv the census returns the sir>j.iit received from tlie movement is -.till less strong than it should be.