THE GOLDEN SPUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 9

THE GOLDEN SPUR.

£50,000 FOB PATRIOTISM,

AUSTRALIAN'S GENEROUS OFFER.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, November 7. \] Sir Robert Lucas Tooth has iv times 11 past made generous contributions to a! j variety of philanthropic enterprises, but ! < his gift of £50,000 to Prince Alexander 11 of Teck to form the nucleus of a boys' 11 training fund is one that appeals most j 1 strongly to all Englishmen who are also i ] good patriots. Sad to say, the word j • Englishman is not always a" synonym for ,1 "patriot."' Experience has shown us that there are many men—and some I ' women—bora of British parents in the I' British Isles from whose education pat- !' riotism has been eliminated. As a writer in the "Morning Post" most aptly puts it:—"Some of them only realise, they owe a duty to their country by ' some illuminating accident of after-life. \ ! Others never realise it at all. We may i j appeal to such men through their in- i' I trrcsts as individuals, perhaps through! their prejudices, their morals, or even their religion, but if we appeal to their ~ patriotism, to their .sense of loyalty to i the interests and welfare of their coun- ! try. we strike a blank wall." This is a defect which is certainly not inherent in the English character, ami !is partly the result of our national system of education, which for many year? ' included no definite attempt to instil I into children's minds the fact that they I owed any particular duty to the land of their birth. Of recent years good work , in the direction of making our boys good patriots in the real sense of the word has been done by various voluntary agencies, chief among them being the Boys' Brigades and the Boy Scouts. But these associations have worked, and are working, under the heavy handicap of a sustained financial drought. It is primarily to assist such organisation that Sir Robert Lucas Tooth has presented Prince Alexander with the handsome nest-egg mentioned, and it is tolerably certain ; that the Prince will receive many other | contributions to the same end now that the thing has been so well started. In his letter lo Prince Alexander of- j fering the gift Sir Robert says: — "Since learning from your Highness i the very favourable impression which the Australian method of cadet training made upon his Majesty the King when visiting that country in 1901, I have been considering ho"' far it would be possible to give the youths of this country a somewhat similar training under a voluntary system. "The beneficial effects of that training • are so evident to my mind that I am taking the liberty of asking your Righncss to further a scheme for giving such training, and to accept the sum ot ', £50.000 as a donation towards the funds j which will be required for carrying such a scheme into practical effect. '■'The scope and importance of such a [ national movement must. 1 am sure, apI peal to everyone who is interested in the . youths of this country, and realises the r advantage of giving them an early training, such as that which the boys of

Australia enjoy. "My aim and object is to assist, and. ' if possible, extend the existing organisations for boys and inspire them with a wider spirit of patriotism and loyalty, and accustom them to habits of selfdiscipline and obedience, which will fit them to become worthy ami useful citizens of this great Empire. Lads so trained would afterwards, it is hoped, although following their ordinary vocation, and earning thpir livelihood, be ready and willing to devote themselves, should they ever be called upon, to the service of their country." Sir Robert proceeds to make a point of the fact that he heartily appreciated what is 'being done in the direction indicated by the Boy Scout movement and kindred organisations, aaid to emphasise the fact that his scheme is not designed to compete in any way with existing societies, but to stimulate and develop their work by granting subsidies for the purposes of more advanced training, and to extend benefits to vast numbers of boys who are at present outside the influence of these societies. Sir Robert's objects are: —

To create good and useful citizens by stimulating a spirit of discipline, self-control, and co-operation. To train those who desire it on the lines of the cadet training in Australia. To provide means for physical culture and miniature rifle practice for boys who desire such training. To stimulate a healthy rivalry by giving prizes and decorations for various competitions. Among other means of interesting the boys in this movement. Sir .Robert suggests the organisation of competitions of all kinds commencing with the local •units, successful teams subsequently competing for th»ir county, then taking part in competitions between the different divisions in the I'm ted Kingdom, the winners finally entering into contests with youth collected from all parts of His Majesty's dominions.

It is his desire that boys shall be included in the scheme from all organisations, such as naval and military cadets, scouts, lads' brigades of all denominations, or other associations, of which they must continue to he members.

Prince Alexander of Teck lost no time in closing with Sir Robert Lucas Tooth's generous offer, nor did he lot the grass grow under his feet, whilst he was making arrangements for putting the Australian's scheme into operation. The Lucas Tooth Roys" Training Fund is now in being, ami other patrioticallyminded people are being invited to follow Sir Eobert's lead, and to assist in mak ing the fund a permanent organisation, which will work systematically for the improvement, morally and physically, of the youth of the Old Country. The fund will be. administered without distinction of creed, the qualifications acquired being financial necessity for help, and an adherence to the objects indicated by Sir Robert Lueaa Tooth in his letter to Prince Alexander,