BOY SCOUTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 19, 20 May 1912, Page 2

BOY SCOUTS.

VISIT OK THE CHIEF SCOTT

Tho following circular regarding tin visit of Cion oral Badcn-Powoll lias boot issued :

Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrovc, llu Dominion Chid’ Commissioner, desires to inform Scout Officers directly interested in tin 1 visit of Oenend Badeul*owell that Oenera! Oodley summoned him, with tlic Senior Cadet Officers, the Commandant of Junior Cadets, and the Boy Scout Officers of Wellington, to meet him at the Defence Office on the morning of May 9th inst.

The General informed the officers present that it was the wish of His Excellency and the Government that advantage he taken of the visit of General Baden-Howell to show him every hoy possible in the centres through which he passed from Auckland to the Bluff. It had therefore been decided to parade the Senior Cadets, Boy Scouts, Junior Cadets, and every other available hoy of ten years and over for his inspection. As General Baden-Powell was probably the greatest living authority on work among boys, it was believed that he would bo able to give the Government some valuable advice at the present juncture. He said, however, as the General was corning here on a visit of inspection to the Boy Scouts, Colonel Cossgrovc had made certain arrangements which would, of coarse, he adhered to as far as possible. !!<■ then appointed .Colonel Cossgrovc, Captain Stevens, Commandant of Junior Cadets, and Captain Chosney, of the Staff, to make arrangements for the reviews in the centres. '[’he Wellington arrangements are: Wednesday, May 29th, at 1.12 p.m.— Boy Scouts assemble at railway station to meet and welcome the General and his Staff. Thursday, May doth, at 2.30 p.m.—Boy Scouts rally. At 3 p.m.—lnspection and review of cadets, Boy Scouts, and other hoys. Railway Faros.—Commissioners and District Commanders throughout the Dominion must see Traffic Managers at once and arrange for school-parties’ excursion tickets; rates as per page 130 of the railway guide. The Minister and General Manager have agreed to this concession. Scoutmasters and Scontmistresses will he regarded as school teachers. General.—ln view of the present very great difficulties under which the Boy Scout organisation is working, and the recent proposal of General Godley to unify the Boy Scout and Senior Cadet schemes, the Headquarters’ Council is of opinion that the proposal to call out all ,hoys of ten years and over for General Baden-Bowell’s inspection is a good one, and while there will he genera,! ,regret ajtnong Scouts and their officers;,that there will he no time for displays of work to be given, it believes the General will be able to show the Defence Department what great possibilities there are in the Scout movement, and what a splendid opportunity will .be missed it it is put aside for the less attra-eijye,. less useful, and certainly less rational scheme of military training now demanded from all boys, of twelve years and over in the Dominion.

Scout offices are urged to persuade every Scout, ex-Scout, and other boy of ten years and over to parade on the day of inspection. As soon as the rally has retired to its original circle, the boys will bo marched off in troops of twenty-four to the position in the battalion allotted to them, and they will march past in line nr in column of fours, as decided upon by the officer in charge of the parade. Scout officers will, if possible, furnish officers to take'charge of those boys who are neither Scouts nor Cadets during the march past. All arrangements of a c vie nature already made by District Commander* in the centres will hold good, subject to the approval of the Chief Scout.

Scout Officers at cadi rally are requested to Oxand in to the Dominion Chief Commissioner a typed list of the displays which their troops ire prepared to give, had time permitted and the Government not decided to call out toe Senii r and Jun’or Cadets.