BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13958, 3 February 1911, Page 8

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

THE POSITION UNDER THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

Now that all boys between fourteen and eighteen years of age have to servo in the cculets under the new defence scheme for the 'Dominion, tho leaders of the Boy Scout movement are endeavouring to evolve a plan by which, while complying the new Defence Act, the boys may preserve their identity as Scouts, and avoid being swallowed up in the Territorials. At tho annual meeting of Christchurch Scoutmasters last night a letter on the subject from the Rev. F. Dunnage, of Halswell, was read; Dealing with the relation of the Scouts to the senior cadets, tho writer said that the first question was: Should the Scouts abandon their position as a. purely civil organisation? If the executive desired to take- part in tho Cadet movement (nossibly the wisest course), then what action should be taKen?, It would be best to avoid as far ,as possible a mixed company containing Boy Scouts and those who' were not Scouts. Let all the boys in and about Christchurch work together to form one or two or more companies of cadets, who would be Boy Scouts as well. The sooner the organisation of this was completed the bettor, so that when the proclamations for enrolment were issued, the Department could ,it once "be told there were one or two companies already organised. The advantages to bo gained by this, if participation in the cadet movement was decided on, were obvious. Then these companies, as the older members passed out into the Territorials, should be recruited only fiom the junior Scouts. This would help to keen up the supply of younger boys, and the cadet companies would contain boys filled with tho "Scout" spirit. Mr Dunnage thought the proposed Scout Cadets would be looked on with favour by parents. The writer also saw Major-General Godloy priyatelv about the importance of providing chaplains at all <3adet camps, and he (Mr Dunnage) thought that in time the chaplains' department of the defence forces would be better organised. Mr Dunnage concluded by stating that at first he thought the Cadet movement would be the destruction of the Scout movement, but he was now inclined to think it might be made to strengthen it- in no small degree. He thought, however, it advisable to avoid mixed (scout and non-scout) companies. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Dunnage for his opportune letter. It was also decided tfi-at Scoutmasters be strongly recommended to put the matter before their boys, and. urge them to give in their names personally as members of the suggested Scout-Cadet companies. The Chairman (District Commander H. S. Goodman) stated* that MajorGeneral Godley had informed him that the Scouts over fourteen would have to put in 63 hours in camp as cadets, and could do their Scout work independent of that. Major-General Godley said that the more Scout-Cadets tliat were -provided the better he would bo pleased. The Commandant, who was "a personal friend of Major-General Baden-Powell, expressed great sympathy with the Scout movement.