FUCTURE POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 146, 22 June 1937, Page 5

FUCTURE POLICY.

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT

WELFARE OF YOUTH. NEW DOMINION EXECUTIVE. Statements of importance regarding the future policy of the boy scout movement in this Dominion were made by Mr. H. Christie, recently appointed acting-Dominion Chief Commissioner, at a largely attended meeting at Scout House last night. Recently Dominion scout headquarters was transferred from Christchurch to Wellington, and this move necessitated many changes in personnel, including the appointment of an almost entirely new executive. This move had been made, Mr. Christie said, in order to put into operation a series of recommendations made by the Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, following his recent visit to the Dominion. The work of reconstruction would, of necessity, be slow, but indication of progress was given with the announcement that the finance committee was now under the chairmanship of Sir James Grose, with whom were associated several men who were prominent in financial circles. A "cabinet" of headquarters commissioners for the various branches of scouting— cubs, scouts, rovers and sea scouts — was being formed, and as soon as finance made it possible Mr. J>R. H. Cooksey, Dominion head of training, would go out into the various districts and relieve the "splendid isolation" which had so far prevailed in many of the more outlying areas. "The executive of the council will be elective and representative," said Mr. Christie, "and in order that this might be given effect to it was intended to arrange for regular conferences of scout commissioners." Meetings of this nature would permit of the ventilation of new and good ideas, would stimulate interest, both within and without the movement, as well as furtherng a spirit of fraternity among the leaders in scouting. Last

week-end at Hamilton the commissioners' of the province had met and discussed matters of vftal importance to the movement. "The boy will be our sole consideration," declared Mr. Christie, "Any conference and any change in organisation or policy will have as its objective the furthering of the welfare and inof the youth of the Dominion. The charge lies upon us all to prepare the boys that come under our care, to fit themselves to assume their tasks in life."

Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Christie and Cooksey, accompanied by local commissioners, visited Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, Auckland Metropolitan Commissioner for Scouts, who is at present confined to bed. The object of the visit was to convey to Mr. Holdaworth the thanks of the chief scout "for his meritorious services to the boy scout movement" and to advise him that Lord Baden Powell had conferred upon him the award of the Silver Acorn, a very high distinction in scout awards.