CONFERENCE ON SCOUTING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 11

CONFERENCE ON SCOUTING

MEETING TO BE HELD ANNUALLY TRAINING DISCUSSED The Canterbury Rover Scout and Ranger conference held in Christchurch during the Queen’s Birthday week-end proved so successful that it was decided to make the event an annual one. The next conference will be held in Dunedin. It was suggested that the conference be run for the whole of the South Island but after some discussion it was decided that it should be run on a provincial basis and representatives from the rest of the South Island invited. Advice was received at the conference that Mr John Henderson, of Wellington, had been appointed acting Dominion Commissioner for Rover Scouts during the absence of Dr. F. M. Mitchell, of Dunedin. The biennial advanced alpine course will be held at Arthur’s Pass from December 22 to 26. Preliminary training courses for Rover Scouts will be organised during the next five months in the four main centres. Training and the requirements for the issue of various badges were discussed at length and it was decided that the qualifications should be made more difficult.

The Rangers discussed altering the age limits for members from 16 to 21 as at present in New Zealand, to 15 to 20, the age limits for Rangers in England. It was decided to adhere to the present limits.

Twelve of the 17 Rover Scouts who represented New Zealand at the world mo °* held , at Kandersteg, Switzerland, m 1953, held a reunion in conjunction with the conference. Two of those who attended the moot are in England and a third is working in Rhodesia. The North Down crew of Te Rangi Timaru was presented with the Zulu Shield by Commissioner C. Clark at the conclusion of the conference. The trophy is awarded for outdoor activities.