BOY SCOUTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 8

BOY SCOUTS.

+ MOVEMENT IX A M ERIC A. Particulars o£ the Boy Scout, move meiit in America Mere given cm fcotur day by Mr W. IT.' Montgomery. Metro poiitan Scout Commissioner for-Christ church, who has returned after 'a holiday in California.

The American Scout Associations suffer from, no lack of linauce and arc able'to cany out their work thoroughly. The .generous financial assistance'.--ren-dered the movement-.by■• th-o'An-ierienn public impressed the visitor. Los Angeles and S'an Francisco have cadi GOOO Scouts ■to support, and these have .a

revenue of from 40.000 to 50,000 dollars. This is in marked.comparison with New Zealand, Mr Montgomery said. In Christchurcli ' there were 1000 Scouts, and their revenue was only £3 00.

"The Scout movement.. in America .is very ' thoroughly organised,'' he remarked. .The people realise . its immense educative iniluenee and in the practical .American way subscribe willingly . towards it. A .number of paid officers arc employed,-and they are able to devote their whole time to Scouting. The offices arc well staffed, and a great'ileal-of time is devoted to printing Scout--material and to compiling verv complete Scout records. The finances of. the movement in New Zealand do not. permit this, and in Christchurcli, for instance, where the Association, has one small room' and no typist, the work is carried'on under considerable difficulty. Camping Systems. "Camping systems in Aincric-a and New Zealand differ considerably.'' continued Mr Montgomery. "The American Associations are enabled, through •adequate finances, to control large per"maneut " camps, which, arc equipped. The Scouts are expected to spend 'fourteen-days a'year at one of these camps, which arc run 'by a paid executive officer—-a eampmaster. Army cooks are engaged, and the camps have -wooden floors Hikl electric, light. They are all very comfortable, efficiently run, and each one -has a paid instructional staff. The Scoutmaster gives his services gratis. '•'This fine system ensures that the Scouts learn full qualifications as required in the Scouts' hand-books. On the other hand, they do not tend to become as self-reliant as the Scouts who have to make and manage their own camps and take into camp the gear required. "The age for American Scouts ranges from 12 to 1* years—a year older than in New Zealand: Scoutmasters arc also slightly older." ■ The' American system was based on the Pritish movement, Mr Montgomery pointed out, and there is very little difference in the requirements. America has its own Chief Scout. The American boys did not seem so amenable to the.club movement as those in the Dominion; The Girl Guides of New Zealand were Girl Scouts in U.S.A. A Typical Camp. Mr Montgomery visited a week-end camp in California, at Royanah, situ-, ated.iu_a forest 'of giant redwoods, where 250 Scouts were under canvas. The weather on the Coast is always tine, and altogether'suitable for Scout work. One drawback was the danger from poisonous shrubs, and for this reason the Scouts wear slacks. This is partly to avert poison from the shrubs and partly because'of dangerous snakes. The Scouts had to learn tp. distinguish the different types of snakes, and for this 'purpose numbers-were kept in captivity in' the camps. - At. Pioyanih huge tamp fires'were Tit"in the evening, and camp concerts and community singing enjoyed. The Scouts wete seated on tiered logs, and a permanent stage nnd dressing:''-sheds were provided. . Mr Montgomery was ■'impressed by the effective Scout yells, while items by a band of over '6O instruments contributed to the programme. Other camps were held high up in tho Sierras for first-grade Scouts. The military spirit was not- encotiraged among the American Boy '..Scouts, .said Mr Montgomery,■■any more than it was in New Zealand. V But every morning at the camps the flag wa3 saluted and, sections of the Declaration of, Jndependence read. This ceremony was an impressive one.