SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 19

SCOUT NOTES

(By "Rover.")

Last week's notes read as if Rovers met on tha 21st and 28th; it should have read. On 21st, Saturday, the Commissioner i« to speak to all Scouters in the Den on the relation of Gcouters to Scouts and the boy of to-day; afterwards a syllabus for instructional nights during June, July, and August will be discussed.

The Ist Wellington Rovers will hold a special gathering on Saturday night, 28th May. Further news will be published next week.

Extract fram Rover-master C. Meachen's letter:. Since my arrival in Sydney three weeks ago, I have visited Wolf Cub Packs, Troops, and Rover Companies, and have been greatly impressed with the organisawo° of the Scoute here. In the New °°U™L Wales section there are 298 troops, 202 Wolf Cub Packs, 538 warranted officers (Scouters) 7407 Boy Scouts, 237 Rover Scouts, 4244 Wolf Cubs, totalling 12,424. In the past Scouters have had to pick up information about scouting any way they could. This was generally from books trequently written for those living under dmerent conditions, or from one or more visits to some troop, or even from the boys themselves. Before an official warrant is issued an applicant must have passed the theoretical paper of the Wood Badge. This v to ensure that he has a fair knowledge of the aims and objects of Scouting, and how to run a, troop. Rovers here are doing fine work; one patrol has undertaken a correspondence course for those country Scouts who are in doubt what to do under certain circumstances. Another group, at th« request of the "Smith Family" are helping those boys who have left the Gosforo Home. Several Rovers have offered their blood to hospitals in cases where it is necessary to save the lives of patients. Another patrol gives entertainments to crippled children. Other Rovers help headquarters in various capacities, such as bookkeeping, records, clerical work, making drawings, etc. They have also furnished the first floor of the Scout head- . quarters, George street, where one can have light lunch or a hot three course meal for a minimum fee, and there k a lounge and.reading room provided with a library and gramophone. Scouting in Sydney is a popular factor with the public, and there are many well-known citizens supporting the movement. I hope later to be able to have a few hints to send over for publication in. the notes, and troops may be able to gain some useful information."—Good Scouting" from Sydney. On Tuesday, the 10th May, 36 Scouts and Troop Committee of the Lyall Bay Scout* visited the Petone Troop, and a most enjoyable evening was spent, comprising games, singing, and Scout competitions. These visits are considered to be of great assistance to troops, and also to committees, as it gives them an opportunity, to view the activities of other troops. Through the recommendation of the Troop Committee, A.S.M. Street has been appointed to the position of Scoutmaster. Mr. Street's work in the troop has been, greatly appreciated by all. On 7th June, the annual meeting will be held, this being the sixth year of the troop's existence. At this meeting an opportunity will be given to parents and those interested to view the work of the troop. On Tuesday last week the Terrace Troop held a parents' evening and were glad to sea a good number of parents and friends, including Messrs. Donkin and Harrison. Game* were played, and Mr. J. Ilott presented his price for the year to Patrol- : Leader F. Cox, who has shown the greatest I progress and keenness. First-class badges were presented to Patrol-Lender C. Homer and H. Wood, philatelist, and handyman badges and first all-round cords to Troop Leader R. Janes, and service stars to R. Lankshear and D. Philpott. R. Jenkini was invested as a tenderfoot. A very enjoyable evening was brought to a close with supper. On Saturday, thanks to the generosity of Mr. T. Nicolson and his friends, the troop and cub pack were transported in nine luxurious motor-cars to Titahi Bay for the afternoon. This took the place of the usual afternoon outing. There were games on the beach and the Wolf Cubs tried their hand at cooking, with result* which were to their own satisfaction, anyway. The rain which came later in the afternoon was hot sufficient to damp the spirits of the party, and the ride back again was much enjoyed by all, except perhaps the drivers of the cars. This week's point for patrol leaders:— Speaking at a Satford school recently, the honorary professor of philosophy of Manchester University said: "I think I might have been • better roan had I not been such a good boy." For an honorary professor this is rather staggering, but there is a remarkable amount of truth in it, and it caste a new light on one of the patrolleader's greatest problems—the "bad 'un." I use the expression advisedly. You know him. He's the fellow who's the regular slacker of the patrol, who, when he does manage to "turn up," upsets everything, is always making a fool of himself, and who delights in flaunting all authority. He is the plague of the leader's life. Everyone understands the difficulty and is full of sympathy, but no one seems to be able to aid the P.L. This iB not really surprising, for it is a vast problem, and one cannot lay down any concrete scheme for taming, reforming, or whatever you like to call it; but I will endeavour to help you. Firstly, let us study the bad 'un. At once dismiss from your mind that he is bad. He is not bad in the sense that we generally use the word. His lapses from grace may be simply the overflow of restrained energy,' the outbursts of cramped enthusiasm, or the desire, which we all have in varying degrees, to appear "big" before his fellow creatures; it may be the non-realisation of the spirit and ideals of the movement, or it could easily be cuusted through lack of discipline in the patrol. But how cau we effect a' cure? Force, shouting, and threatening are no good. Turning him out of the movement is the very last thing to do. It is admitting defeat. What then? For a «tart, cast aside the idea' that the fellow needs reforming. He doesn't. Remember the honorary professor. All that ih needed is to direct the fellow's energies into useful channels, and give him opportunities to givo vent on proper occasions to hi« harnessed enthusiasm. I might aleo mention that it is always good to have a grand release of "steam" at your patrol meetings—some popular yells and loud choruses. None of us like being bottled up, and an interval of relaxation mnkes for better discipline. The one thing I always advise in every case of the bad 'un in for the P.L. to make a friend of him—a real pal. Tha trouble is you see him only at the troop-aud patrol meetings each week. Just invite him to your home; if be is a slacker, go to his home and dig him out. Take him out to play football, to see a good picture show; give him a helping hand with his homework. It won't be a hard job for you— you would have a pal in the ordinary course of events. In his Scout work try to encourage him. Take a keen interest in his progress. When you and the patrol hike off on a Saturday afternoon, see that he goes with you. Give him something to do—make him keeper of the camp gear, patrol scribe, oc log-keeper. Responsibility's the thing. Aftev about a month or, so, try tact. Just appeal to him. Tell him straight out what's wrong and explain how the honour of the patrol is at stake, and all that kind of tiling. And, mark my wordß, he will not fail you. Those fellows who are keen on tracking will welcome the introduction of the Trackers Badge by Imperial headquarters The teate for the new proficiency badge are as follows:—(1) In Kirn's Game re member twenty-five out of thirty wellsorted articles after one minute's observation three times running; each article must be correctly described. (2) By smell alone recognise eight out of ten assorted liquids or solids in common use. (3) By hearing alone recognise eight out of ton different sounds. (4) By touch alone recognise twelve oot of fifteen assorted articles (including such thing* as dry tea leaves flour, sugar, etc.). (5) Recognise and esplam two different characteristics in each of five different types of simple human tracKs. (0) Produce six casts of animal °'j j v V**l" 1 ' *11 casts being taken unaided by himself; two at least of the casts to bs those of wild animals. (7) Solve within 25 per cent, error three simple tracking stories set in sand, snow, or other suitable natural media. Follow a simple Nature trail of at least one mile in length contamina «t least forty signs, of which at least Airty.fiv* must be noted and described verbally or in writing when the trail is completed. Kindly forward notes on or before Mon««s' °> each weak to Rover A. Mcachen, Ithaca, Thorndon quay.