SCOUT NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21248, 19 October 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

SCOUT NEWS

(By “Hamutana.”)

THE ANNUAL REPORT

Here are some excerpts taken from the thirty-second annual report ol' the execute e committee of the Boy Sc-outi’ Association, which was presented ai the annual meeting held in Wellington today:“Throughout the past year Scouting- has been conducted in mis country as far as possible m accordance with the policy formulated by the executive at Its first meeting alter election when It was decided that Scouting had a definite wartime policy, which was, to prepare the boys lor what may lie ahead having regard to the development of the world conflict. That Scouts have once again risen 1o the occasion is abundantly clear from reports coming to hand from time to time. We have time and again been thrilled by the news rrom England of the splendid work within the scope of Scoutihg being rendered there. This work Included assisting in evacuations rroin London 4nd other large centres of population, ftor which high praise from civil and military authorities has been accorded the Scouta. There was the Instance or Sea Scouts from the River Thames taking their 14ft. boat over tu Dunkirk and helping with evacuation work at grave danger to their own lives. Later, these same Sea Scouts took over a tug which had lost Its way and piloted it back to England. From this It can be seen that Scouting has not failed In the nid Land in the purpose for which It was devi-od, that. Is to be ready and useful on all occasions within Its power and sphere of operations. During the past few months some consideration has been given to the acquisition of a permanent ramping ground, and it ts felt that a standardised system of training cannot be reached until a permanent ground with complete essential equipment I? made. The men from Scouting who are on aotlve service have not been Torgotten and a tegister has been compiled and Is being added to rrom time to time. It Is honed that In order to make this register as full as possible the district Scouters or the men themselves will supply Headquarters with the needed information. It is also gratifying to know that some of our Scouts at the front have formed themselves into a rover crew under the leadership or Commissioner Hyde, late of Walroa. and have made contact with Scout troops in Cairo. The beginning or war gave to our Scout - ers a greater sense of the need for putting Into practice the emergency regula- ! tions issued during the previous year and I some very fine performances In assembling ! and carrying out imaginary evacuation, i fire-fighting and first-aid work have been I recorded. Nearly all the districts have engaged to some extent In these operations. During the year a new Department that of National Service, has been set up at Dominion Headquarters, and Commissioner Ziman, of Hamilton, appointed In charge. We feel it a privilege, the report concludes, to be associated with Important work at this time. Let us assure the Council lhat Scouting cannot be regarded In this Dominion as In any sense only a small factor In national lire, for approximately 15,000 men and boys are In Scouting. This does not represent, however, more than about 20 boys In Scouting out of every 100 of Scout age. it is too good a movement to be kept to these dimensions. The public Is with us as never before and we must turn to the best possible account this public support.