SCOUT NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20546, 14 May 1932, Page 6

SCOUT NOTES.

& ... [By Thb Metropolitan Commissioneb | [EXCLCBIVB IO MI PRESS.3 Thanksgiving Service. The provincial secretary of the Girl Guides' Association has sent an invitation to our executive to attend the thanksgiving service commemorating the 21st birthday of the Guide Movement, to be held in the Durham Street Church on May 29th, at 2.45 p.m. If members of the executive will let the secretary know of their intention to be present, soating accommodation will be arranged. Lyttelton Group. The secretary of the Lyttelton group writes to inform me of the resignation of Mrs Perry, as cubmaster of the cub pack. She says: "Mrs Perry has endeared herself to all of us, and more especially to the cubs, all of whom I am sure have learned to love and honour her and they will miss her very much." We hope that Mrs Perry will i continue to act as D.C.M., as her "work among the cubs is very valuable for the movement, and it is difficult to obtain D.C.M.'s with the necessary expenenCC Boots and Shoes.

A number of our troops are now working at the collecting of boots and shoes for the needy, and we hope that they will put plenty of energy into it as it is a community service which helps other people. After all that is the basis of the scout training. Commissioner Furby. I am glad to hear that.' our general secretary is improving and that he is able to come down to the o face occasion - ally. He is still weak and will not be able to attend regularly for some time. Scout Games. ''Scouting is a game," Says the Chief Bcout, and we must always remember it. An important part of scouting is to learn how to play games in 'the scout spirit. Boys must learn that " pothunting" is not a scout game When a game ceases to be played for itsolf or for tbo honour of the patrol or the group it is no longer a scout game but is bordering on professionalism, -which is the antithesis and enemy ° f No P w r \about scout games. Let me classify them, so that you may see that they all help a fellow to be a good scout First, there aro games for instruction in scoutcraft, such as "compSs swatting." Secondly, there, are games demanding attention and observation You all know "Kims game, "Rats and rabbits," or "Murphy ? ays» Scouts should be quicker in the uptake than other boys. Thirdly, there are games demanding co-operation, that is team work, which Should usually be designed to encourage the patrol spirit. Theseare the most important games in a troop A number will bo found in Scouting Games, by the Chief Scout and in tho "Gilcraft Book of Gamcs The> are a practical example of the third scout law. , , 1 Fourthly, there are games demanding action—games which liven you up and keep you warm, such as wrestling, leap-frog, and chasing games. You all know them. . • Lastly, there are games just for tun into which we should put as , humour as possible. Scouts should not only smile when in difficulties,/hut should cultivate a smile and a sense of humour at all times. There should be several games at every parade, nnd they should be as varied as possible. After a game has been played a few times it should be 1 barred for throo months, and a new one introduced. It is tho fault of the S.M. if the parades become dull. Games should include eyerv member of the patrol, and special pains should be taken to see that tho timid boys are brought forward. Games should all bo played smartly, with every nervo strained to attention; • there should be no talking, which only Tneans fhnt your mind is fixed on j something else. Every scout should j learn to be a good loser. It is not) only good scouting, but it also is manly and good will make you respected when you grow older. A football story occurs to me. ■ Our side made a great rush at the last moment, and one of our men got over the lino and could have gained a try. Just as he was being collared he threw the ball t<> another man nearer the p;oal posts, who got the credit of the trv nnd tho subsequent p;oal. It is fifty years since I saw this little incident, hut I have remembered it and give it 03' an example of tho way a scout, should play the game. A Thought for the Week. I camo'across a saying a few days ago which appealed to me as a scout. It was this: "Work is character in action." This means that our character is shown by the way we do our work Our promise and law form the basis of a scout's conduct and a boy's training as a iscout will, when he hecomes a man, be shown in his work.