The Chief Scout. Falks

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 5, 7 January 1931, Page 16

The Chief Scout. Falks

(By LORD BADEN-POWELL. CHIEF SCOUT.)

SCOUTS IN THE DOMINIONS.

I get a lot of letters these days from Scouts' who have gone from England and Scotland and Ireland and Wales to live overseas in Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Canada. Most of them appear to be doing well, and to be enjoying their life and their work. Letters received from their employers all speakto the boys being happy and successful ' in the different lines of,; ;life" tfleytaken up. I read of one unfortunate accident the other day to a boy migrant—not a scout. Hβ was accidentally killed when another boy was handling a gun. I am always telling Scouts how desirable it is to learn shooting, because it is likely to be useful to them in many parts of the world. But also it is useful because it teaches you how to handle a gun—not to carry it loader], and never to allow it to point at anybody else, whether loaded or not. In this way you do not constitute yourself a danger to, your neighbours like the ordinary Tenderfoot who has never had a gun in his hand. So once again I advise any Scout who is thinking of going overseas or has gone overseas to learn how to use and handlr a gun properly. . ... Then from the many letters I have read I see that it is. very-useful also for a boy to know how to milk a cow. Most Scouts who go out have never learned this, and have to spend a good I deal of their time learning it over there i before they earn their full pay. Also you ought to be able to ride'a ] horse, and know how to harness and. I drive him. I I suggest that if you work up for the following Scout badges it will be an immense help to you: Carpenter, cook, dairyman, electrician, engineer, gardener, handyman. hcalthyman, horseman, I marksman, mason, pioneer, poultry 'farmer, surveyor, swimmer and. woodman. ' ' »■• ''. . ~- :

There are others which are almost as seful overseas, but if you have qualified or some of the , above you will find ourself much more "at home" in the )omiriions. '

I I expect most Scouts.have found, as I have done, that wherever you go in the streets, or in a strange town, or far out in the country,"or in the Dominions overseas, you sooner or later .come across a boy wearing, a buttonhole :badge. • j As you get nearer you see that it is the well-known three-pointed badge of the Scouts. Then you salute him, shake hands with the left hand, and you are in the company of a friend and brother j whom a minute before was a total : stranger to you. ; ! I like that way .of meeting , and that way of making friends. It happens to me almost every day. It is all brought about by that little badge of brotherhood. If we had not been wearing it we should have passed each other by without knowing that we were brothers. So I always wear my badge and I hope all Scouts will do the samel Wear your badge at all times when not in Scout uniform. It. shows that you belong to the great, brotherhood and that you are proud 1 of your corps. And it is Hke a policeman's armlet, it shows that you are on duty. For wherever he may be a Scout.is at all times on duty, ready to do a good turn to anyone requiring it. ■'.'■..'* . ■ ■- < ■/