BOY SCOUTS

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 24

BOY SCOUTS

♦ < , MESSAGE FKOM THE KING. LONDON, September 6. General Baden-Powell inspected 11,000 Boy Scouts at the Crystal Palace. King Edward, in a message, assured the boys of his great interest in the move- ! ment, adding: "If I should call upon you Jater in- life the cense. of patriotic responsibility and discipline acquired in , your boyhood vi3X enable you to 'do your duty, as men • in the - event . of * danger ' threatening the Empire." ' " WELLINGTON, September 6. The Boy Scout movement throughout! the Dominion ie being co-ordinated by the constitution of an executive. Major Cosgrove, of Kaiapoi, holds the rank of Dominion Chief Scout, and Colonel Snowhas been appointed commander of the South Island. Dr R. H. Mac Gill, of Wellington, 1s in command of the North Island. Mr Hector MXeod (Wellington), secretary for the North Island, will keep a register of patrols for that division. District commands, which will control the work in the various centres*- are about to be established. A COMBINED PARADE. On Saturday afternoon a combined parade of scoute was held in the Gardens, and there was a satisfactory muster. Hie organisers aim at securing a. battalion of 500 strong through the efforts of their - newly-appointed officer, whose duties consist of exercising and disciplining the Scouts, organising patrols, and generalJy supervising all work connected with the movement. At the present time a large number, of boys are placing themselves in touch witt the new officer. During next month special meetings are to be hold in Dunedin and subrubs, in Burnside, MoSgiel, Port Chalmers, and Waikouaiti, with the object of linking up the patrols. It is intended! to approach a Dunedin gentleman with a view to his taking over the office of commander of the district. The bsnefits to - be acquired by joining this movement are stated to be man} and varied. At the present time Auckland, Wellington, and; Christchurch have battalions of over 400, while Dunedin's turn-out on Saturday totalled only 77. To show boys what ie to be gained by joining it is pointed ou': that the syllabus shows knot-tying, hutbuilding, bridging, mountaineering, patrolling, path-finding, judging heights and 1 distances, ewimmmg, scouting, life-saving, rescue work, flag signalling, signal fires, chivalry, courtesy to women and girls, self-disrinline, honour and obedience, courage, and cheerfulness. In the selection of officers every care will bo taken to «ecure men whose in-» tegrity is unquestionable. The authorities recognise that tho success of the work depends largely on their officers, so that men, of efficiency, with special adaptability for training, will be recommended on application being majde to the officer for, the district. Every Scout must be obedient and loyal to the officers and to his pledge. On a boy becoming a Scout lie must promise- to obey the Scout law, to do his duty to God and the King.His powers of observation are tested in, various ways. The boys during parade are always under the eye of the officer, so that every boy is kept at work Each patrol is composed of six members, with an, officer in charge. The object of the movement is to dele* pate responsibility to the boys tforougK their leaders. Every Dunedin "boy within the ages of 13 and 19 year 3is asked to enlist and assist in a movement that is for the good of the British Empire as a whole. All correspondence addressed to the Organising Officer of the Boy Scouts (Mr Ricfiard Jones), c/o V.M.C.A., Dua- ' edin, will recede attention* _^M