DOMINION SCOUTS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14405, 12 July 1912, Page 10

DOMINION SCOUTS.

To set tho Cause abovo renown, To lovo tho game beyond tho prize, To honour, while ycu Etrike him down, Tho foo that comes with fearless eyes; To count tho liU of battlo good, And dear the land that gavo you birth, And dearer yet th« brotherhood That' binds the bravo of ail the earth. —Newboli.

(By Vigilant.)

Tho Dominion Headquarters' Council held its monthly meeting in the Boys' Gordon Hall last week. There was a good attendance- of members, and Colonel Cossgrove, tho Dominion Chief, ■was in tho chair. Tho resignation of Mr W. 11. Babcock, headquarters' secretary, was received -with regret. Tho matter of filling the vacancy was held | over till next meeting; the Key. W. H. j Orbell was appointed pro torn.

Tho chairman gavo an outline of his visit of inspection throughout the Dominion in May and June. He spoko in .warm praise of the energy, enthusiasm, and self-sacrifice of tho officers every wheie, and of the ueneral efficiency of the troons. About 2500 Boy Scouts were inspected.

In tho North Island tlio movement was very popular, and in Auckland and Wellington there was a large number of very line workers. The citizens, too, were practically sympathetic, as funds,, trophies and prizes were liberally given. Thero was a good healthy tone anions the oiHcers in Dunedin, where the boys showed moro careful training in courtesy than in any' other city in tho Dominion. It was a treat to see these boys straighten themselves up as they approached an officer, stopped short a row yards from him, and give the Scout salute. A noteworthy feature in the South Island was tho uniformity of uniforms. Every was dressed in khaki,. whilo in tho xVorth thero wore many varieties and colours, especially in the cities of Auckland and Wellington.

General Baden-Powell was greatly pleased with what he saw of the Scouts and their officers. Ho was surprised to find the movement so well established, and the organisation so coraDlete. He had never seen so many King's Scouts in any one troop as ho had seen :n the Dominion, and enquired :is to the cause of so much competition. Ho complimented Chief Scoutmaster Brown, of llaworn, upon his splendid fight for the artd hoped he would rijiht .".s bravely for it this year. The 47th Wellington Troop. London, sent a handsome flag to our Wellington Troop by the Genera! for competition among tin , Wellington Scouts.

hi his icport to the Cabinet tho General stated that he had never seen finer or bettor-set-uy lads than sonio of the Iliirli School Senior Cadets here. Of the Junior Cadets,' he sa:d that whilo thej did their march past very creditably, and while they generally looked neat in. their uniforms, ho saw much in tho scheme to condemn it. Junior Cadets should have no military drill or exercises. Physical exercises should replace it, and encouragement should !io jjiveu to make every schoolboy up to fourteen years of age a Boy Scout. That while the schoolmasters could give the training in handicrafts, etc., they could not compel a boy to take the Scout oath, hence there oould bo no compulsory Boy Scouts, even if that were desirably. The Boy Scout organisation should exist as at present, and badu.es of efficiency should count in tho promotion of boys when they became Cadets under the Defence Department, at fourteen years of age. Scoutmasters who aro Jiable to serve might have ccrta'.n concessions allowed them

in consequenco of their work with tho boys. i'or example, tlicj might bo Allowed to count one military drill for, say, four Scout parades, and scoutmasters who had three years of service as such, might be granted honorary military rank, and bo placed on tho reserve of officers. From these the very best officers could .bo selected. Tho General cqnchided his report with a strong recommendation to demilitarise tho Junior Cadets, and to substitute tho Boy Scout training on the lines indicated, giving in detail his reasons for tho recommendation.

The Dominion Chief was recommended to oiler Captain Marciel tho position of Chief Sea Scout, in accordance with tho suggestion of General Baden-Powell. A resolution was passed :n reference to making the annual levy of 2s 6d per patrol a necessary qualification for competition ior the King's Standard.

Thero is great activity' among the troops everywhere. Many additions are- made, and new troops formed. Mr Foster, late of Christchnrch, has enrolled a new troop of 35 boys at Titnaru, where ho is already a great favourite. Tho present lookout is indeed very promising.

Mr P. Carrington, district secretary, Christchurch, reports two cases of rendering first - aid by Scouts last week. A boy broke his arm ai< Papanui; Assist-ant-Scoutmaster Andrews and his Scouts put it in splints, and attended to him till the arrival of the doctor.

' Leader MacDavitt, of "St. Michael's troop, saw a hoy break his thigh-bone at school. Ho at. once sot about putting it in splints, and had the sufferer quite comfortable when the doctor arrived. This lad had just previously distinguished himself also by stopping a runaway horse and cart. Colonel Cossgrove. has forwarded Mr Andrews a letter of commendation, and Leader Davitt a beautiful <tTtiiicate of merit.

Tho native troop at Tuahiwi has liad a hard time of it lately. There has been much sickness in the pah, and Leader Bos-hip Weretai and others have been laid up. It is feared the troop will be seriously disorganised, as threo of the senior boys are leaving the district and may not return. This muse be very disheartening to Scoutmaster To Aika, who has spent a great deal 01 time with them.