BOY SCOUTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 298, 9 May 1913, Page 5

BOY SCOUTS.

MORAL AND MANLY BOYS. 3By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. 1 Received 8, 11.10 p.m. ' London, May 8. the Duke of Connaught, presiding at [ the Boy Scouts Council, testified to the value of the movement in turning out moral and manly hoys. Ho repudiated the suggestion that militarism was at the back of the movement. NOT A MILITARIST MOVEMENT. Christehurch, May 7. lhn cablegram from Loudon containing the views of Mr. J. A. Pease, President of the British Board of Education, regarding the Boy Scout movement, \yas brought under the notice of Mr. IT. S. Goodman, District Commander ot the Boy Scouts' Association, by a Press reporter yesterday. Replying to a deputation, Mr. Pease said:— '•f am anxious that no militarism should be associated with the elementary schools. A certain number of parents fear this, and I think that there is some justification for the feeling that it is merely a military movement, in order to secure , compulsory * military service throughout, the country." • Mr. Goodman stated that in New Zealand there was a certain feeling, particularly in Labour circles, that the Boy! Scout movement was associated with the military movement. As a, matter of fact, it w as not so at all, for the whole basis of the movement was citizenship and good character. The military element was simply there for the purpose of keeping the boys together, for with a mass of boy's there must be a certain amount of drill to enable them to be moved about together., The uniform of the scout was not a military uniform, but it was very suitable and comfortable for field work, and might be adapted as a military uniform for cadets and others. Mr. Goodman quoted the following clause from the Boy Scout regulations, to show what the aims of the Boy Scout Association were:—"The aim of th« association is to develop good citizenship among boys by forming their character—training them in habits of observation, obedience, and self-reliance—in-flating lovalty and thoughtfubess for others —and teaching them services use ful to the public and handicrafts useful to themselves. The association has no military or political aims." J