Boy Scouts And Cubs Welcome Their Chief

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29725, 19 January 1962, Page 10

Boy Scouts And Cubs Welcome Their Chief

A rally of 201 cubs and 153 scouts from Canterbury gathered at the Christchurch Boys’ High School yesterday afternoon to meet the Chief Scout (Sir Charles Maclean). Sir Charles Maclean shook hands with the 354 boys and their leaders and commissioners. About 30 visitors attended the ceremony. Accompanying Sir Charles Maclean were Mr C. Green, the Commonwealth commissioner of the Boy Scout Association. Mr C. W. Hamann, the Canterbury area commissioner, Mr S. O. Field, the chief executive officer of the Boy Scouts’ Association in New Zealand, and Mr A. J. Crowther, Dominion secretary of the association. A guard of Queen’s scouts lined the steps to the entrance door of the school. The Dominion commissioner of the Girl Guides’ Association (Miss R. Herrick) and the Canterbury commissioner (Mrs J. H. Powell) were introduced by the acting deputy area commissioner in Cant'*bury of the Boy Scouts’ Association (Mr R. E. Glensor) The scouts and cubs formed a semi-circle in front of the flag pole to the side of the school. The Chief Scout was met by a haka party of seven boys and a leader as he came into the semi-circle. After the haka he was presented with a greenstone and silver brooch for Lady Maclean. The cubs gave a grand howL They formed a circle with Sir Charles Maclean m the centre and while they gave their cries he gave a sign back to them with three fingers. . , , A prayer at the beginning and end of the ceremony was taken by Mr G. Coley. A Union Jack was unfurled at the beginning and lowered at the end. Demonstrations were given by both the cubs and the scouts. The cubs played games and ran relays while the scouts pitched tents, hoisted flags, and carried a boy on a stretcher on bicycles. It was during the demonstrations. which lasted about 40 minutes, that Sir Charles Maclean shook hands with the cubs and scouts. If a boy shook hands incorrectly he was whacked with Sir Charles Maclean’s cane. Afterwards the rally reassembled and Mr Hamann presented the Chief Scout with a book of photographs of New Zealand entitled "New Zealand in Colour." Sir Charles Maclean told the boys that they belonged to a large family of cubs and scouts, 2,000,000 in the British Commonwealth, and 9.000.000 in the world. ‘1 wish all you cubs Rood hunting, all you scouts good scouting, and all commissioners and leaders good leadership,” Sir Charles Maclean said. Civic Reception

In the morning. Sir Charles Maclean was given a civic reception by the Mayor <Mr G. Manning) in the City Council chambers. The official party accompanied him Mrs Manning was hostess, and Cr. M. McLean, her sister. Miss R McLean, and brother. Mr G. A. McLean and Mrs H. A. Thomson, of Christchurch, represented the clan Maclean at the reception.

Mr Manning said that the scout movement could help to overcome the temptations which present-day boys had to meet and. because it was a world-wide movement, it could make a great contribution to friendliness in the world.

Sir Charles Maclean said that it was good to know that the movement had the backing of Christchurch's No. I citizen.

“If we can, in any way. help the young persons of

any country, that is our Job," he said.

“Some people ask what is our reward: we work with the most precious material in the world—God's children.” Sir Charles Maclean said.

Chief Scout At Lyttelton

About 40 sea scouts from the Lyttelton area entertained the Chief Scout (Sir Charles Maclean) to an inner harbour trip after he had inspected the troop and its waterfront headquarters at Lyttelton last evening. Sir Charles Maclean spoke to nearly all the scouts in the troop and praised their work and appearance.

Sir Charles Maclean, who was accompanied by senior scouting officers, including the area commissioner for the province (Mr C. W. Hamann), was rowed across the harbour in two standard scouting craft with his party, all members of which took a turn at the oars.

Five gaily-painted homemade canoes which had recently been used by the troop on a canoeing expedition in Queen Charlotte Sound, escorted the two boats in perfect weather. After the trip, which lasted about 20 minutes, Sir Charles Maclean left for another appointment, and the sea scout troop lined the road in farewell salute as he drove off.