THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 9

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

PROGRESS REVIEWED BY! MINISTER EARLY ARRANGEMENT OF PROGRAMMES URGED “In some districts the preparations for worthy centennial .celebrations are well advanced, because thq leading members o' committees and their associates have been properly impressed fay the time factor,” states the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs, in “New Zealand Centennial News.” In some other localities progress has not been remarkable, but there is pleasant evidence that the need for activity has been recognised, and it is anticipated that within the next few months the results will be creditable.

“It is necessary to give a reminder that all programmes for celebrations should be fixed as soon as possible on a basis which will avoid clashing of dates. It is very important to have the official national programme available within a reasonable period for prospective tourists in other countries as well as for the people in the Dominion. Many New Zealanders, in planning their summer holidays, will wish to see historic pageantry in various places in addition to the Centennial Exhibition at -Wellington. That kind of travel will certainly be verybeneficial in increasing the people’s knowledge of their own country from various viewpoints. After all, the principal value of the widespread centennial celebrations will be in giving New Zealanders a stronger ‘sense of country.’ . “I wish again to assure the members of local organisations that the centennial branch of the Department of Internal Affairs is eager to offer any assistance within its power., Executive members of those bodies are, earnestly advised to keep in touch with centennial headquarters at Wellington to ensure a helpful co-ordination of activities.

“The centennial calls for a generous - measure of public-spiritedness in all districts. Whole-hearted team work is needed everywhere to make the cele- , brations worthy of the national "purpose. In every place the centennial issue is a test of the local public. * A locality failing to respond adequately to the centennial’call confesses automatically that there is something lack- •- Ing in its appreciation of the pioneers? , stalwart work.” THE CENTENNIAL JAMBOREE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING ADDRESS BY COMMISSIONER “The first promise a scout makes-is ‘ a promise to do his best to do his duty .. to God, and the second is to do his duty to the King,” said Commissioner J. E. F. Vogel, addressing a conference of North Island scout leaders at Pal-? merston North. •“The centennial jamboree will, 1 - hope, bring out some of the basic , principles of scouting. Among these is the principle of a scout’s duty to God. the first thing in the promise, and the fitst which should receive; at- - tention- Arrangements for religmus. observances at the jamboree are -being; - carried out ' in- accordance - with the ‘ . principles vof pcouting, that"'every boy : should cburch . atC his - piro - • church. We ih orthodqx religion.' The services will. be carried out ’ in a quiet ■ and natural way. largely - by younger clergy who themselves . have been scouts.- . - ‘ ■ • £ > ■ “Another' great ~ principle. of the - : scout movement is that it is an out-. - door movement. We believe that a boy gains many essentials; which will stand him in good stead Ihter in his life, by camping and outdoor adven- - ; tures. The movement has of late re-; ' ceived tremendous impetus from Com-, missioner J. R. # K. Cooksey, Dominion „ headquarters training commissioner , who has been travelling New Zealand visiting all scout districts and encour-v : aging them in camp-craft and open-air ■ life. ■ i ;

“Not Discipline of Prussian . Goaid” % “There is one other aspect, of--scout- •',? ing to which I 'would like to refer— ; the question of discipline. The scoutmovement firmly believes in dismp-. line. It is not the discipline of the . „ Prussian Guard, but, nevertheless, the ■ discipline is there. .It• is discipline ■■ based on the co-operation "of - men and iTipn, mm and boys, and boys and boys. - It is'discipline which emanates from true loyalty and commonness* of purpose.” ■. - The jamboree itself was: a big un- ■ . dertaking, specially as the - response showed that an average of . nearly 70 per cent, of those eligible :would. -at-, tend. It would be impossible to carry it through if it were not for me great', support and encouragement -- received from the Government, firms, and- individuals. The Governor-General had inspected the camp ground,! and had in every way shown keen interest. The tremendous assistance. which firms and private people had given in such ways as material, technical advice, special leave for scouters and. rovers, had* also been of inestimable value.