NEW SCOUT HUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 127, 1 June 1931, Page 3

NEW SCOUT HUT.

CEREMONY AT PAPAKURA. HIS EXCELLENCY'S REMARKS. NEED OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. At Papakura on Saturday afternoon his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, performed the ceremony of officially opening the new BadenPowell Scout hut. His Excellency was accompanied by Lady Bledisloe, and others present were Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P. for Franklin; Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, Auckland Metropolitan Scout commissioner; the Rev. R. J. Stanton, assistant district commissioner; and Miss B. Knight, provincial Guides commissioner. There was a large attendance of Scouts and Guides from all parts of the Auckland Province. Owing to rain, the ceremony was performed inside the hut. "I hope that within these walls the movement will prosper and will be supported by the people of Papakura," said his Excellency in declaring the building open. He declared that the Scout movement was the greatest movement that the last century had seen, for if a movement were directed towards helping youth, then it was done for the good of the Empire. "If there is any danger with regard to the future of our Empire at the present time, then it ie from lack of discipline," said his Excellency. "Parents do not exercise tight control of their children, therefore they must place discipline on themselves. And if self-dis-cipiine can be achieved, I think it much better than the old form of discipline." Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, Auckland Metropolitan Scout Commissioner, paid a high tribute to the work of the Papakura Scout committee, who some twelve months ago had set out to provide the troop with the line hall which they now had. In this effort the chairman, Mr. J. S. Tiddy, had worked most whole-heartedly, and it was largely due to his fine efforts, backed by the" committee, that the boys and girls of the district were now so well provided for. The hut, which was 45ft by 45ft, with an ante room of 19ft by 19ft, would also be used by the Girl Guides and Brownies who had assisted in the collection of funds. Two tablets commemorating the opening of the hut were unveiled by Ladv Bledisloe. Mr. Massey expressed his admiration of the work carried out by the Papakura committee, and also the generous gift of the site by Willis brothers. Mr. Holdsworth presented Mr. G. C. Iverson with a medal of merit in acknowledgment of his fine work in the Scout movement for the past 17 years; Mr. Holdsworth said Mr. Iverson was the Scoutmaster of the St. Mary's troop, Auckland. He had not only had that troop, but had boys in from the Blind Institute, and also had formed a troop for crippled boys at the Auckland Hospital.