BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

Shannon News, 31 May 1929, Page 2

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

TO BE FORMED IN SHANNON. There was a very poor response to the meeting of citizens called by the Mayor (Mr E. Butt) in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter of forming a Boy Scout troop in Shannon. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor and a£'ter~ those present had discussed the question it was decided to go on with the movement.

Mr P. Ba3S, who i 3 the prime mover in the matter in Shannon, gave a 'general outline of the methods of forming a troop aud its objects. He said that the first step towards forming a Boy Scout troop was the election of a citizens' committee, the Dominion Headquarters being determined that in future no Scout troop shall be registered unless it has been brought ,into being by a 'meeting of citizens, who will be responsible for the nomination of the Scoutmaster and his assistants. The committee have full charge of the activities, equipment, finances and management of 'the Troop. The committee plays an important part in the movement and it is necessary that its members shall be men who are keenly interested in the movement. Continuing, he said that throughout the whble Dominion, they would And an almost universal interest in the Boy Scout. Scouting, he said, was a way of living that puts deeds above words moulded character through habit, > taught citizenship by service, learnt -through do ing, and developed co-operation by co-operating.. Pioneers, sea rovers, athletes, etc., weie v the boy's heroes, ( and through woodcraft, camping, boat-' ing and athletics, the boy was led to acquire their habits of self reliance, energy, wide m achievement, and of being useful and helpful to others. The methods aldopted Avere as simple as effective. They were effective because they were based upon the known psychology of the boy between the age of'll and 15. In conclusion he stated that 24 boys, who had obtained the consent of their parents, had handed in their names and as only twelve were required to commence a troop, they had the boys, but they had 'got to have competent leadership. Mr B. Taylor said that he was disappointed at the poor attendance. In 1909 he remembered a similar meeting * being held in Taranaki, when there was about the same response; but they formed a troop and at the end of three months they had 75 boys enrolled and then the parents, began to take an interest, with the result that those who started the movement were thanked by every father. I Mr Bovis 'then moved and Mr Taylor seconded, "That the Btry Scou* movement be formed in Shannon and district." —Carried. <

The .following officers were then elected pro tern: Scoutmaster, Mr P. Bass; assistant Scoutmaster, Mr B. Tayler; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. T. Bovis; committee, The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Messrs Fell,. Hudson, Bass and Taylor. It was resolved that the committee canvass the town to arouse interest and that another meeting be held in a fortnight's time. The committee wish to impress upou the .townspeople that the whole movement is self supporting and that boys must finance themselves by their own efforts. It is the' committee's intention to place their propaganda before the parents, and thus get the backing of the community. Unless those interested came forward with support, it is no use-forming the troop. The boys are keen enough, it is for the parents to do their part. Mr Bovis promised to donate signalling flags, also to give instruction in the use of" them.

The meeting Avar, then adjourned for a fortnight, a vote of thanks being accorded the Mayor.