SCOUT NOTES

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 4

SCOUT NOTES

rgXCLUSIT* TO THE PBESS.] [ISSUED FROM' METROPOLITAN HEADQUARTERS.] Akrht Gilwcll. The site of the camp is now fixed: it is at Clarkville, about three miles from Kaiapoi. close to a river, with an excellent -paddock adjoining which will be suitable for exercises. We are now assured of three sixes at least. The names oi' those who have sent iu applications so lar are the Dominion Chief Commissioner, Commissioners W. E. S. Furby and E. Gray, District Scoutmaster IC. Dyer. District Cub Masters L. Wilson (Invercargill), J. S. Partridge, J. W. Powell, Group Scoutmaster E. Manthorp (Timaru), A.R.S.L. Frank Olds, Cub Masters G. Gaskin (Marlborough), R. Carew, Miss Roswell (Sumner), A. Jackson (Linwood), J. C. Carter, R. T. Baker (Invercargill), W. R- Rogerson, and Miss W. M. Bradley. The camp will commence on December 26 and will be continuous till December 31. Akela Wilson is expected to arrive a few days

beforehand. A circular is being issued to all who have sent in Iheir names, giving details of the gear that is lequired to be taken into c;u~'\ Marist Brothers' Group. At a meeting of parents and supporters of the group lust Tuesday, 18 cubs were invested, under the .supervision of District Cub Master Carter. There was a large attendance of scouts and others. His Lordship Bishop Brudie addressed all present, slating that the scout movement needed the support of parents and xill group committees, and it was their duty to take an interest in the welfare of the scouts and cubs. Warrants were presented to Scoutmasters Scully and O'Corinell, and the rest of the evening was spent in games. The Marist Brothers' group is now a very strong one, comprising nearly 100 scouts and 18 cubs. It is understood that it is to contain two troops. New Group. A new group is being formed jn No. 3 district, to be called the Celtic group. It is understood that the chairman is Mr T. Hin lcy, and the secretary Mr E. Fitzgerald. No information has yet been received as to tne numbers composing the group; but two applications have already been received for warrants for scoutmaster and assistantscoutmaster. Warrants. This week an unusual number of warrants lias been received from Dominion headquarters. Following are the details:— Linwood group: Miss E. M. Mcintosh, assistant cub mistress, Miss G. L. Johns, assistant cub mistress Miss A. Jackson, assistant cub master; Richmond Methodist group, Mr H. L. Parker, assistant cub master, Mr I. Forgie, assistant scoutmaster; Addington group, Mr R. J. Moore, assistant cub master, Mr R. Lockwood, group scoutmaster. Miss B. M. Harris, assistant cub mistress, Riccarton group; Mrs G. M. Carter, cub mistress Trinity group; Kaiapoi group, Mr F. L. Blackburn, cub master, and Mr R. J. Abbott, assistant scoutmaster; Mayfield group, Mr J. D. Edmond. scoutmaster, and Mr R. Oakley, assistant scoutmaster; Mr W. W. Allen, assistant scoutmaster Templeton group. Sumner Group. Last Saturday the Sumner cubs walked up to Evans Pass to meet "Phao" and "Ra," who hiked over from Lyttelton. The party spent the afternoon on the beach tracking and playing football. "Phao's" trackers got safely home before "Ra's" could cut them off. Later the cubs went to Mrs Roswell's, at Clifton, for a break-up party. "Ra" cut the cake with a sword used in the Battle of Waterloo, and led the cubs in a "grand howl" to thank Mrs Roswell. Hover Wood Badge. The following are the Dominion passes in part 1., or theory course, of the wood badge (rovers):—Commissioner W. D. Johns, D.C.C. (Auckland), Commissioner W. E. S. Furby, D.C.C. (Christchurch), Group Scoutmaster E. Manthorp (Timaru), and Rover Scout Leader F. Monkman (Auckland). We offer our congratulations to Commissioner Furby on attaining this additional distinction. He is also a candidate for the wolf cub wood badge, and is attending the Christmas camp ,for the purpose of going through the practical work. Executive Committee. A meeting of the executive is usually held on the third Thursday in the month; but as it is approaching the Christmas season, it will be held next Thursday, December 14, instead. Rally Notes. The Rally Secretary (Mr Keith Dyer) finds great difficulty in inducing those who have received tickets to return them and the money received for the rally. He wishes to call the attention of the secretaries of the following groups to the fact that they have not yet sent in their returns, and requests that they will do so immediately to him, to Mr F. A. Brittan the treasurer, 154 Hereford street, or to Commissioner F. G. Tidswell. C/o Auto Parts, 48 Tuam street. Papanui, Templeton, Rugby street, Merivale, Toe. H., Richmond, East Belt, Cashmere, Tennyson Street Groups. Camp Notes. One cannot help impressing upon the secretaries and scoutmasters that the motto, . "Be Prepared!" is especially applicable to camps. Several applications have been received during the last few days for examination for the Camper's Badge. Now there has been plenty of time during the last few months for those who wished to become qualified to take charge of a camp to notify their wish to be examined for this purpose; but it is now very late for an examination to be carried out. P.O.R. requires not only a complete knowledge of the normal requirements with regard to personal kit and the extra gear and rations for a week-end Patrol Camp or cruise and a thorough knowledge of knotting and axe work., pitching tents and cooking; but it is necessary to have attended at least two annual summer camps each for a week's duration under canvas or oil board ship or boat, and have camped out alone, or with one other scout for at least three nights, not necessarily consecutive These requirements cannot be carried out in a week or two before Christmas, and it is probable that several troops will find that they are unable to go into camp because they have not seen to it that one of their officers has qualified to manage a camp. In such cases the only thing for the secretary to do is to appl-y to his district commissioner and to ascertain if it is possible that some qualified scouter can take charge of the camp, or that the troop will camp in conjunction with some other troop

which is in charge of a qualified person. We at headquarters owe it as a duty to parents to see that no troops are allowed to camp without having someone in charge whom we can trust. The duty is now placed upon district commissioners of granting permission to camp; but only after being thoroughly satisfied that the camp will be in charge of a responsible person. Another point with regard to camps which should not be overlooked is this, parents are naturally anxious about the welfare of their boys, and the committee in conjunction with the scoutmaster should make a point of sending a circular round to the parents of those boys who wish to camp, stating full particulars with regard to camp and asking for each parent's written consent to the boys being taken. This should be done at the earliest possible moment and not left to a few days before the camp. Another point which should not be overlooked is the preparation of camp gear. This should all be assembled weeks before the camp takes place. Tents should be mended and other equipment carefully gone through. A day or two before the scouts intend to start for their camp, all gear should be brought to the den (if they have one) or to some other place and inspected by the scoutmastei'. He should then see if it is adequate; but don't leave everything to the last moment and then find that you have forgotten some important part of the camping gear.