Work Of Scout Leaders Praised

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 12

Work Of Scout Leaders Praised

The demands and challenges of today were met not by physical, technical or scientific means, but there was a greater need for men and women able to organise themselves and to fit in with their neighbours and each other, said the member of Parliament for Rangiora, Mr H. E. L. Pickering, before opening the Canterbury scout area’s 1970 scouters and layworkers’ conference on Saturday.

Approximately 100 men and women were welcomed to the Blue Skies training centre. Kaiapoi, by the Chief Executive Commissioner (Mr S. O Field). Mr Pickering said that the 1970 s would be a time of change and challenge and it was heartening to know that the, national scout association had been prepared to change, not its fundamentals, but outward details. Man’s advance would depend on developmeni of character and appreciation of eternal values. Consideration for each other and regard for duties and responsibilities were necessary both nationally and internationally and the part played at the group level of scouting was the foundation, said Mr Pickering in a tribute to the work of the laymen and leaders in the movement.

The conference’s theme was “Making Ourselves Known," and representatives of the girl guides’ association and Canterbury Boys’ Brigade battalion spoke on their organisations and recent changes. The Canterbury Boys’ Brigade president (Mr W. S. Collins) said that the world situation had changed since the brigade’s formation in 1883 but the underlying reasons for the movement’s existence had not changed. The boy was of first importance and everything was subservient to his need. Mr Collins considered that the highest honour for a member was not the Queen’s Badge but to be approved at that stage, as a non-commis-sioned officer.

Mr Field spoke of work being undertaken by a national scout-guide co-ordinating committee to smooth co-opera-tion between the two movements and said there had been no issues of difference. Promotion of joint activity was only necessary at local level and rules had been recently approved for a joint committee administering guides and scouts.

The principle of joint activity had been accepted internationally and the majority of centres overseas had certain activities planned as joint occasions, said Mr Field.

Provision had been made for combined use of premises with rights of use protected in perpetuity, and it was immaterial in which organisation the deeds were lodged, said Mr Field, Future gliding schools at Matamata would cater for both scouts and guides and a ranger-venturer lodge, for recreational activity historical research, track clearing and other conservation work in conjunction with the State Forest officials, was planned on the Coromondel Peninsula.

Joint activities were permissible with commissioners’ approval: the policy had been approved and there was only a need to gain local confidence, said Mr Field.