BOY SCOUTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 October 1931, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS

ANNUAL QQ^JFERENCE .SpyTH AUCKLAND, DELEGATES • 't MEET COMMISSIONER AT HAMILTON. MQVEMENT'S GREAT PROGRESS. HAMILTON, Mondqy. •The largest and most- inspiring corifepence associated with the Boy Scout movement' in the Waikato was held in hamilton on Saturday evening. Over 5 0. scoutmastersj' troops officers and chairmen of committees from all over the South^ Auckland district attended, and much important business was dealt with. Saturday's conference was eloquent evidence , of the great strides made, and achieved much in the direction of cohsolidating 'organisation. Mr. H. H. Olark, chairman of the district commjfctee, presided. Before tea was partalcen of, grace was said by Rev. C. Melville Newton. Valuable Movement. -A hearty welcome to the town was extended by the Mayor (Dr. F. D. Pinfold). His Worship extended special welcomes to Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, metropolitan commissioner ; Mr. Bacli",, assistant commissioner; Mr. Ai..G. Windsor, organiser and secretaiiy, of Auckland; and Mr. G. Serviee, Auckland Commissioner No. 1 District. ^easure the large and representatfve gathering was expressed by the chairman (Mr. H. H. Clark). He pofnted out that the war had robbed thglcountry of- many of its finest men, and; there was npw .a drstinct gap in thej ranks betwepA the old men and thd young men. It was the duty of khe Scouts to build up, a movement producing a fine stamp of man to fill in that gap.. He commended the great work being performed by Commissiqner Ward, 'but appealed to all to make his wprk easier by true Scout co-:Dperation and assistanpe. (ApplaXise'. ) '1 , .Cpnimissioner's Address. A ropnd of appjause greeted Mr. W; J. Holdsworth, metropolitan commissioner,. on rising to speak. He was, he ;said, delighted to be present at suph a large gathering. When he took on the work of commissioner he was told that there would be little to do. Since- then he had been remind-ed-of- the saying in the old Book: "All men are liars" (laughter) — and some men were bigger liars than Qthjers (renewed laughter). He belieifed. to-day the scout movement was Q.n^a sounder footing in New Zealand tbah it had been for many years. They were fortunate in having as Dominion Commissioner a 'man like Dr. Fenwick, whose heart was in the movement and who was but for the boy. Scouting Tjvas.at last coming into its own, and in the Dominion the recent visit of their beloved chief had been an immense stimulus to the movement. The Auckland officers were delighted that Major Ward had taken on the position of commissioner, but it was essential that he should have support froin all sides.. . Reorganisation Scheme. Mr. Ho.Idsworth then briefly outlined the new system of organisation of the Auckland area. He was certain the position would be improved to such aii exteht that they could look forward to the future with confidence. He wished he South Auckland district eyery success in its work and that they would go forward rapidly and put1 scouting on the map. P(elegates from Te Awamutu and Waitoa emphasised the importance of visits from district and metropolitan headquarters. ' These visits, they poi'nted out,. did much to hearten scouts. ' Mr. Holdsworth replied that it was the 'intention of headquarters to circujqte monthly bulletins, while broadcasfc addresses would also' be given. A lengthy discussion, including somp ppposition, took place on a proposal that troop- committees accept resjionsibility for enrolling honorary mefhbers at an annual subscription of 5s per member on the basis of two honorary members for each scout computed on the average roll during the year, and that such subscription be forwarded to the district executive commitfee arid used ge'nerally f°r the beiiefit of the district. Need for Scouting. Addressing comitteemen, Major Ward commended them for their assis'tance throughout the year. To some of them perhaps scouting was not- a very definite goal. He would ask these to remember the turmoil and stwfe in the world and then ask themselves if there was not something in theideal of international brotherhood. It Iwas only by fostering a clean, healthy, right-thinking manhood and wofaianhoctd that this ideal would be attained. He added that the interest he*had found in scouting had amply repaid him for any diffidence he had had in taking over the appointment of colhmissioner. (Applause.)