SCOUTS IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 8

SCOUTS IN WARTIME

Spirit Of Service Fostered STILL DOING GOOD TURNS Boy scouts are doing their wartime “good turns” by assisting in collecting for the Red Cross, and by doing odd jobs regularly in the homes of men who have gone to the war, says the annual report of the Wellington metropolitan executive of the Boy Scout Association.

“It is the policy of the scout association,” the report proceeds, “to minimize, as far as possible, the harmful effects to the development of hoys caused by war conditions. This is done by making every effort to continue the usual activities of the troops and packs, and particularly their outdoor activities in the country, which contribute most to healthy and normal development, physical, mental, and moral. At the same time scouts are loyal to King and country, and gladly make their contribution of service in forms suitable to their ages and circumstances. This does not involve any great change from the usual procedure of scouts, whose duty it is to be useful and to help other people at all times, except that present conditions give to the boys increased opportunities of service.

“Certain necessary restrictions have to be placed on the ways in which scouts may serve to ensure that they do not engage in activities harmful to themselves, but many useful avenues of service are open to them. These range from collecting under proper organization useful articles for the Red Cross, to attending regularly at homes from which the man of the bouse has gone to the war, to help with all sorts of odd jobs. In these ways the scouts make the contributions of service which it is their duty to make, without being unnecessarily brought in contact with the more harmful aspects of the war.

“It is a source of great satisfaction that the service rendered by the scouts is of real practical value. This satisfaction is increased by the knowledge that the scouts are by doing it gaining greatly themselves in the development of their characters through' the practice of habits of helpfulness to others.” The report also states that with the war and the consequent cancellation of the jamboree, conditions had been rather upset during the year, but the tendency for the last two or three months had been toward a general increase in the number of boys in the movement in Wellington. The war had considerably reduced the number of young men available as rover scouts and scout officers. Totals for the Wellington area on June 30 were: Wolf cubs, 554; scouts, 642; rover scouts, 56; officers, 108; total, 1390. This showed an increase of scouts on last year of 64, a decrease of two in wolf cubs, and a net increase of 35 including officers and rover scouts.

For the first time for many years an award of the Bushman’s Thong was made in Wellington during this year. Scout Don Taylor, Wadestown Troop, gained this badge, which indicates outstanding proficiency in outdoor scouting. The King’s Scout Badge was held by 12 scouts in the area. There were 34 first class scouts in the area, compared with 26 last year. Improvement in general standards was shown by the fact that 125 second class badges had been awarded during the year, as compared with 112 last. year.