BOY SCOUTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4937, 10 February 1926, Page 3

BOY SCOUTS.

VISIT OF COMMISSIONER.

BRIG-GEN. ANDREW AT PAEROA.

The keenly anticipated visit of Brigadier-General A. W. Andrew, Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scout movement in New Zealand, on an inspection of the Paeroa troop eventuated on Monday. The Commissioner was met at the railway station on the arrival of the Auckland express by the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), who formally welcomed him to Paeroa bn behalf of the people. The local scout troop, numbering 57, was drawn up in two ranks on the platform, and saluted their chief as, he came forwards them, after which the scbut haka of welcome, led by L. Boyce, was given. The Commissioner was delighted with'the welcome, and at his request the smallest boy in the troop, Scout Jack Silcock, was selected to lead the haka a second time. The Commissioner fittingly acknowledged the cordial reception given him, after which .the scouts were dismissed, while their Chief, was driven by the Mayor to his hotel. EVENING PARADE. In the evening a large muster of scouts assembled at the Gaiety Theatre supper room, where General Andrew formally inspected the troop, which was drawn up in three ranks across the hall. Each lad was spoken tq individually, and counselled to "hold his head up, brace his shoulders backj’.or some other fitting remark, as the great soldier passed along the ranks. At the conclusion of the inspection the troop sat down grouped in a semicircle facing -the Commissioner. ADDRESS TO SCOUTS. the . scouts, Brig.-Gen-eral Andrew congratulated them bn their clean, smart appearance. He said that judging by the answers he had received to questions the troop was not doing enough work. They should all have passed their tenderfoot test, after which they required £to be sworn in and duly initiated. It was liigh time they had their badges up. He had been disappointed to find that so few of the troop could repeat the scout promise and the scout law. The boys were counselled to think of others, and especially the sick and the poor \ and needy. They should not be allowed to wear the scout uniform unless they were able to do at least one good turn each day. The troop should be prepared for any emergency, and never lose an opportunity of assisting in every way. A true scout was' required to concentrate on doing all he could in his own home, and always to honour his parents, fear ..God, and respect and obey the s,cout- ( masters and persons in authority. After telling the lads some of his experiences of life in German East' each story having a moral, the Commissioner, dismissed the lads. ADDRESS TO PARENTS. /Addressing the parents, of whom there were a good number present,

Brig.-General Andrew expressed his pleasure at' meeting the people of ■' Paeroa, and seeing for himself the help and encouragement the movement was ■ receiving. Outlining the scheme, the speaker saidthat it had been instituted in Etagland 17 years ago, and wag' now a world-wide movement. A’t the last jamboree in London 21 nations had been represented, and the movement embraced over two million boys. In America there were half a million scouts, in England 180,000, and .in New Zealand 6500. New , .Zealand had played a prominent part in the movement, because it was the first country in the British Empire to have a written Government Constitution. The people of New Zealand had also recognised that if the movement was good for the welfare of boys it was equally good for girls,. God’s Own Country had been the first to start the Girl Scout or Girl Guide, movement, the first troop being formed at Christchurch. Since then the ’ Girl Guide movement had spread, and at present Australia, Japan, and South Africa were affiliated with New Zea-, land. Nearly all social movements depended upon sermons and lectures f for their success, or otherwise, and it was remarkable that the scout movement did not need such assistance for its, existence because it was a working movement. Scout work had grasped the psychology of a boy as nothing else had done. The romance of seout work, the adventurous spirit, the com- . petitive spirit, the gang instinct, and r hero-worship, all played a part. The result was that, provided a suitable leader could be found, the movement must grow and the precepts, prosper and spread.’ An energetic committee was necessary to administer the funds ' and .relieve the scoutmaster of the business side of the movement. If the manhood and womanhood of the nation were to be developed bn sound lines, said the Commissioner, parents must take a lively and intelligent interest in their children. Churches and school, teachers, fre- ‘ quently complained that parents did not interest themselves in the welfare of their children, and the results were often chaotic. Dealing with 'the financial aspect, General Andrew stressed the point ' that the troop should be self-support-ing. Self-reliance was, a part of the movement, and parents who were always dipping in their pockets to assist 'the scouts were defeating the true aim of scouting. It was the spirit of old pioneers, that the boys shbuld adopt. He contended that the present-day boys, were too lax, and inclined to be "mamby-pamby.” A troop should perform some community service at least once every three months, and church parades should be held regularly. It was necessary, and expected, that scouts, should be regular church-goers.. In conclusion .the General said that on behalf of the Dominion executive he wished to thank sincerely the people of Paeroa, and especially the comjmittee, scoutmasters, and all who had iCassisted .to revive the movement in $ rthe town. They were working on the right lines, and he wished them good • > luck and continued success-