DOMINION BOY SCOUTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 52, 30 October 1915, Page 2

DOMINION BOY SCOUTS.

..- j I'lu L'Ui! EWTOK JfOSI.] Sir, Will you allow me, through Ivour widely-read paper, to commend the Boy Scout Movement to parents laud others in your district? The 'movement is now recognised through,out the Enipiru to be the best over in[auguratud tor the training of boys i" jtheir unity to Goddoyaltj tu King and (Empire, self-sacriiiee, if necessary, in iservicc tor others, and in laying the 'foundation of a character I bat will .produce the best typed citizen, iou i have in your town the nucleus of a . spleudid troop, two excellent Scoutand a keen and energetic committee-, 'lhi-s is not enough, howiever, to make the movement a success. Wo want the moral sympathy and support of parents and citizens. .The Scouts are a power for good in any community, and then' keenness and readiness to help those in need and in c er\ good cause is undeniable. During the present Empire crisis they ■have proved themselves at Home and 'here 0.l great help. His Excellency (Lord Liverpool) has specially commended them to headquarters for their invaluable help. General Godley has desired mo to thank Scoutmasters and Scouts throughout the Dominion for their invaluaoie help at a critical tune, unci the late Colonel Bauchop l,who ien at Uallipoh) in writing a .farewell message to the boys, said: "i don't knew what we would have dime without tiiein." As an instance ol their usefulness, 1 may mention that several of our Scouts have received the LI.U.S. medals for saving life iron; drowning, a large number .the silver cross, and several the medal of merit. Seme thousands of boys 'have been taught to swim with a view to rescuing drowning persons; hun(dreds of cases of first aid have been j attended to and much property has been saved from lire. Some 10,000 (pairs of socks have been collected by them for the troops. Wellington Boy Scouts-collected three tons of literature for the boys at the front, and a few weeks ago the Timaru Scouts collected 10,000 books and magazines for the troopships and hospitals. The | boys in your town too, are doing their [bit. They and their trek cart are seen ready for any public service—a fact 'freely acknowledged to me during my j visit. This being so, lot mo appeal to parents and townspeople to encour'age the boys and give them a chance Ito prove themselves. The boys are 'keen to do things. Many more want to join, but the difficulty is to get men 'to take the main hand. There is patriotic work here for good men who cannot , got to the front. I trust some of these ; will prove their worth and loyalty by offering their services to . tee. of whom your respected citizen, [Mr Kirkwood is chairman.—l am, etc.', I). COSSGROVE, Chief Scout Commissioner.