SHOOTING OPPOSED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 122, 19 November 1931, Page 12

SHOOTING OPPOSED

THE BOY SCOUTS DOMINION COUNCIL'S DECISION (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHBISTCHURCH, 18th Nov. Whether the Scout movement could be considered militaristic if rifle shooting were taught to Scouts and Cubs and whether Scoutmasters were proficient enough to carry out proper training were questions discussed to-day at the annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Boy Scouts' Association, when Commissioner W. D. Stoney Johnston, of Nelson, suggested that the marksman's badge be reintroduced. The remit proposing it, however, was defeated. Commissioner Johnston said that the argument put forward by the Nelson people for the marksman's badge was that the boys there learned to use the rifle very early, and they should do it under proper guidance. "I think the idea of the people who put this remit forward was that tho consent of the parents should be obtained," he said. "Now that compulsory military training has gone, the boys do not have a chance of learning musketry unless they go to college. Ninety-nine per cent, of the accidents that occur from rifles are because thenusers have not been trained." Mr. H. Amos, who seconded the motion pro forma, said that he could not help feeling that the time was not opportuno for bringing the remit forward. Mr. W. H. Montgomery said _ that they were apparently like politicians — afraid of what people would say about them. They should simply go on with scouting and not worry over criticism. Colonel P. C. Fenwiek pointed out that the badges had been cut out for a very good reason. If the boys wanted to learn musketry they could join the volunteers later and learn it under proper control. Mr. A. J. M'Eldowney voiced his strongest disapproval of the remit. There were so many useful badges to be won that a boy's time was quite well filled without qualifying for this badge. He opposed the remit. The secretary (Major W. E. S. Furby) said that they had cut out the use of firearms in camps, and prohibited their being taken in two years ago. "I would not think of trying to teach our boys musketry—they are far too young," he said. "Then, again, I don't think our officers are proficient enough to teach it. We should leave it to the miniature rifle clubs." Major F. W. Sandford said that his name had been in four generations of marksmanship, yet he was strongly opposed to the reintroduetion of the badge. He had had one boy killed and two injured in accidents, and he would not allow firearms in any camp. On one occasion boys had put bullets through a Scoutmaster's window, because they did not like him, and had not realised the possible damage that could occur. The chairman (Mr. J. K. Kirk): *'I do not 'think that there is anything militaristic in introducing marksman's badges, although psychologically some people may think there is; but from what has transpired here I see that we have not tho facilities for teaching rifle ■shooting to our own Scouts." The remit was lost.