BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 54, 27 November 1926, Page 11

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT

-MORE SEA SCOUTS NEEDED. In tho report of tho Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scouts' Association winch was laid before the annual meeting of the council recently, mention was made of tho need for more attention being paid to the sea scout side of the work. In this connection the report stated. “There is another direction in which I feel there is room for considerable improvement. 1 refer to the sea scout side of our work. In this department we have them practically standing still for the last three or four years. We have, it is true, excellent sea scout companies controlled by very fine masters and mates at Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Lyttelton. I am delighted, to hear from Mr. Christie that he hopes to have a sea scout company going at Wanganui very shortly. It would take a small volume to acquaint you with the efforts made both by Lord Jellicoe and myself to get a sea scout company at Wanganui, and how, when wo got going, it ended iu failure. Judging by tlie way Mr. Christie has rebuilt the new scout movement in Wanganui on the ruins of the old, I am sure he will soon have a sea scout company that will hold its own with all comers. I am sure Mr. Sandford would weary you if he were to set out to tel) you of the long struggle to fry and get a sea scout company at New Plymouth. How meetings have been held, citizens interviewed, harbour board officials consulted, all willing to help but nothing done. I am glad to say that General Sir Alfred Robin, who already lias two very fine sea scout companies, anticipates one or two more at an early date. He is well supported by Mr. Gilbert, who is doing splendid work. Lyttelton and Nelson have also each a fine sea scout company, and dozens of returuing visitors from Nelson voluntarily inform mo of tho splendid sea scout company there. But there are altogether too many sea-side lake or river places in the Dominion whore Ibero are no sea scouts. T promised Lord Jellicoe before lie left, that wo would yet have 1600 sea scouts. May I again ask all commissioners Io give (his matter fl-oii- serious consideration.” Tho suggestion of the Chief Commissioner to ro c er tho matter to the districts was adopted.