BOY SCOUTS AND MILITARISM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1031, 21 January 1911, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS AND MILITARISM.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. (By Telccraph.—Special GorresDondent.V .Auokland, January 20.: Tiio discussion at the Methodist Synod regarding'' 1 Militarism""has been ■eceived with astonishment." in Auckand. In an- interview, Mr. H. Steb>ing, who is a leader in the Scout organisation in Auckland, said: — . -' : "It should be clearly'understood that lie organisation-is for peace," and is -olimtary and self-supporting. Boys aro accepted as members, irrespective'of creed or nationality. A number of in-, stances could bo quoted where boys born in New Zealand of naturalised parents haro become most enthusiastic Scouts. This, fact should dispose of tho suggestion that ' 'jingoism' is encouraged. Scouts aro certainly taught to love the flag under which they live, and to 'be prepared', if called iipon to defend it. It ;is useless to supposo . that a- boyunderstands. .different: when after a;"month's eonsideration-he takes■ his; oath 'to 1 serve God and tho King.' The spirit of militarism/is- no more-to-bo fojund in 'scouting gaines' than it is in tho good old schoolboy game of 'holding tho fort,' or iii : ctess' jor draughts. Since the inception of the movement in Auckland tho local organisation has had associated with it several military officors who havo had the moral, well-being of growing', lads' at. heart.' have long since; realised that tho training of ; a-Scout, should produce .'a citizen soldier souud in mind and body, and later, when the boys '.become -men, and are-required to servo in tho-Terri-torials, they ivill prove a strong- factor in-removing some of the objectionsl.iwhich are urged by those parents' who'- arc anxious about their.-sons' future'welfare.' Certainly tho introduction of a' modified 1 form of military drill and discipline has -proved most beneficial here, and tho innovation has been endorsed ■ by -some scoutmasters who aro' as' conscientiouslyconcerned about extreme militarism as some of the "Wellington critics at the church conference. There arc over 1200 boys enrolled in\tho..Auckland district, and many of the:.troops^are-'connected'! with churches >and , btljer /.rdligious in-: stitutions." Mijj'of-Geheral' Godley, wtafi takes a great interest in., I;he.,movement,states: 'I know how very;inuchvpieased General Sir Robert Baden-Poir&L will-be-' when he visits the Dominion to ;hear .how much the Scout movement has' dono' out hero towards developing the moral character of the boys.' " t