Apathy Of Parents A Handicap On Scout Movement

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14711, 1 July 1948, Page 5

Apathy Of Parents A Handicap On Scout Movement

Co-operation From Schools And Churches Training Men Of High Moral Standards (Contributed) When opening the Layman’s Scout Conference at Rotorua recently, the Mayor, Mr A. F. Moncur, said it brought back many lumpy memi.rh's when he was n hnv going to school at the end of the last century, m 1 hat time ww« the* National hero —the man who had instigated the Boy Scout movement —one of the most wonderful movements in the history of the world, an organisation that is framed and formed for the purpose of character building. Mr Hector Christie, 0.8. E., President of the Dominion Council, said that all the people present were doing work which meant a great deal of sacrifice, yet they continued to do it willingly because they were imbued by the fact that it was necessary to train the young folk in the interests of tivnr country. At the conference much f stress was put upon the desire to get more interest and co-operation from schools, churches and from parents. The delegates to the conference were very impressed with the standard of Scouting among the Maori Cubs and Scouts of the Whakarewarewa School, and were gratified to hear the headmaster say that

ho encouraged Scouting as strongly as possible. Ho had always found, ho said, that the Scouts proved themselves boys of strong character and good morals, and in any cases of mischief or trouble he would never find a Scout or Cub among the troub 1c -m a kcrs. Each schoo l must want more boys of strong character and morals. Each church must want more boys who do their duty to God and King, and parents must wane all that Scouting promises for their boys, yet without their interest, Scouting can seldom bo given its full meaning. The peace of the world may very soon be the responsibility of the young boys ‘of today. This means that they must have strength of Character and strong morals. We must have men who know that duty must come before monetary gain. Gate Pa reports that they attempted to hold their annual meeting but, ns only three supporters attended, it was decided to postpone it and try to get a more representative attendance. Troop meetings have been small, but the work is going well, and most boys are now well into their first-class. This lack of local interest again provides the biggest setback Scouting has to face. Commissioners and committees may work very hard to obtain the troop's Scoutmaster. He in his turn gives up much precious time and works very hard to get a good standard in his troop, yet so often that Scoutmaster has to work without thanks, and what is much worse, without interest or support. It is this apathy that is smothering good throughout the world today.

A Scout promises: “On my honour I promise that I will do my best; To do my duty to God c:vJ the Kin.*? - ; To help other people at all times; To obey the Scout Law.”