SCOUTING IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 212, 8 September 1941, Page 2

SCOUTING IN N.Z.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

NEED FOR MORE DENS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. I There are 75,000 boys of scout age in New Zealand, and of these one in five belongs to the movement, according to a statement made at a boy scout commissioners' conference at Lower Hutt on Saturday, when there was a discussion on achieving the aim of the Dominion Chief Scout. Sir Cyril Newall, to have every boy and girl in New Zealand a member of the movement. It was emphasised that if this aim was attained there was a great need for more scoutmasters.

There were 50 district commissioners of the total of G6 in New Zealand at the conference. Ways were discussed whereby the usefulness of the Dominion commissioner for training, Mr. J. R. H. Cooksey, could be increased. A well supported suggestion was that he be provided with a caravan appropriately identified in which to travel from district to district. It was stated that there was a great need for more scouts' dens. Elaborate halls were not needed, only large sheds or other buildings which scouts could use for meeting in and leave their gear.

Commissioner Fink expressed a wish that employers seeking youths wculd specify preference for scouts. The training given should be such that an employer would never be let down. The chief commissioner, Mr. H. Christie, said he had written dozens of recommendations for scouts seeking jobs, and for each one he had written he had received six recommendations from business men of the work of employees who had been in the scout movement. Governor-General's Interest Sir Cyril Newall attended the conference at night and took part in the discussions.

The presentation of a warrant of office was made, to Scouter Arthur Reid, second lone scout master in New .Zealand. He is scoutmaster of the Lone Scouts in Wellington and Hawke's Bay. There are 230 lone scouts in New Zealand.

A suggestion that New Zealanders were not sea-conscious was made It was pointed out that the country had hundreds of miles of coast and many slow-flowing rivers and harbours. New Zealand could not live without using the sea. therefore it must produce more seafaring men. Speakers stated that here was an opportunity for the sea scout section of the movement. The new Dominion commissioner for sea scouts. Mr. Alexander Black, of Dunedin, said that hitherto the sea scouts had been the Cinderella section of the boy scout movement.

Commissioner Caulton, of Gisborne, said he had been approached to recommend recruits from his disor navy. He forwarded the names of several sea scouts, and they were all appointe'd. One had written from a training depot stating that all those in his unit had been sea scouts, also some of the officers. This illustrated the practical worth of sea scouting. The need for more boats for the sea scouts was mentioned.