WITH THE SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 8

WITH THE SCOUTS.

(By WATCIIFTJL.)

•I " ! Now that the weather Is showing slgm 1 of making an attempt to resume a stimmci ' aspect, most of the troops of the district ■ are also mailing an attempt to welcome the warm weather by preparing to equip them selves for tlio mueli-looked-for camp at ■ Christmas time. To tills cud scout concerts i are being held by several troops, the pre ■ paratlon for which adds a great deal ol I latercst to tho routine work of the parades, i The All Saints/ Troop (Chief - Inspect": i Campbell) Is "Holding a concert in St. ; John's Schoolroom, Ponßonhy Bond, to i night (Thursday), when a very good pro- , gratnmo Is to be presented by tie scouts, . assisted by several local artists. i The Scouts of the First Hdon Troop, • under Inspector Thomas, left last evenlns • for a troll camp to be held at I'apskura, ■ Tho boys have constructed a fine little trek cart, capable of carrying a load ol Bc-iVt, nud strongly mode with light carriage wheels. The troop will travel on foot al! • the way, covering from ten to twelve miles i per day, devoting n certain portion of cael , way to scooting practices, such as track- , Ing, signalling, despatch running, observation lest, ami nature study. Provision has 1 been inado for tbo camp to last lor about j ten days, and, as the hoy« are well pro- ; vldcd with good tents, ground 6hcets, anil j nil other camp gcur necessary to Shell comfort, and hnve among their nnmbci , several boys who nave Just undergone ti : cot-rat! of study In camp cookery and Ilrsl 1 aid, tliev should return home much the better for their outing. These moving cumps are also particularly nseful In tench- • lug tbe boys a great deal about the country, i and' arc now becoming very popular. • .Peroral scoutmasters have already iiotllleo their Intention of- making similar excursions in the summer, when time allows. 0"ho District Secretary wishes to notify scoutmasters that he lias several copies o! "Boy Scout Tests," revised and enlarged edition, which may bo obtained from him for 2/. 'As this Is the ofilclal test book, nil candidates for proficiency badges must study from this work. Applications for enrolment continue to come to hand •from the country districts. The latest Is from Morrlnsvlllc, where Mr \V. Basblolgh advises that ho has a good number of boys who are very keen to commence scouting activities. Colonel Cossgrove has written to the Minister of Defence with regard to the •tvishes of the Dominion Council. The letter nsks for tho following two moderalu concessions:—"(l) That three weekly Instruction parades of uot less than one hour's duration attended by n Scoutmaster and certified It) by a Scout District Commander or other person approved by the Defence authorities, should count as one Territorial parade; this concession not to exempt the Scoutmaster from attending tho compulsory nununt camp of training. <2) That j-coutmiißtcrs who have rendered two years of faithful service In tho Scouts nnd hove proved themselves good disciplinarians and organisers, should, oil the recommendation of tho active head of the Dominion Boy Scout Movement, be placed on the i-nuttnchcd retcrro of officers, with the honorary rank of lieutenant. f In support of his ni-pllcatlon, the Colonel points out that General Godley nad his olliccrs recognise that the training our Boy Scouts receive Is very helpful to them when they become Senior Cadets. lie says: "Although we do not pretend to teach military drill, we lay the foundation of character, and a true appreciation nf the necessity for Implicit obedience to the orders of these In authority. We teach them many handicrafts, too, as well as a thorough knowledge of signalling, knotting, mop-reading, and Judging distance; ItidccJ. rverythlug that will bo useful to lhcm in after-life, no matter what their sphere may be. We cover all the syllabus laid down -Tor your Senior Cadets except mUltary drill and rifle exercises." Tho following letter has been received from Mr G. Sadler, General Secretary of the Victoria Boy Scouts' Association, Melbourne:—"On behalf of the Central Executive Committee. I, together with Mr Boberte, have been deputed to study the conditions of the New Zealand Defence Act as affecting Boy Scouts, and draw up, ir possible, a scheme to work on In Australia. I would be glad If you would be good enough to assist us In this matter by supplying mc with the necessary Information. I know It Is rather a big order, hut have no doubt of your ready help. I would like to know your original arrangement, nnd how It worked, also the difficulties ynu experienced, as well ua the present system. You were good enough to "write us on this subject some time ago, tint I iini Informed that the present nrrangement with the Defence Department Is quite different. We expect to more In the matter of getting some concessions as soon as we ore prepared with the nocc«-ary Information, and I would, therefore, be glad If yon would go Into the question as fully as you can. nnd at the earliest opportunity, nnd. It, possible, send mc nuy form* or printed matter on the subject." The Colonel hns replied to the letter, giving n lengthy orcount of thn stops tnken lo secure rocoznltlon for the Scouts with the Education Department, nnd subsequently with the Dofence Department. He sent Mr Sadler a number of letters nnd pamphlets regarding the subject, and pointed out that measures had been tnken to secure some concessions for Scoutmasters who arc also Territorials.