SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 4

SCOUT NOTES

(By "Scouter.")

Thought for this week.—What would be the good of getting things if there was nobody to divide with?

"What is a Scout?" There was once a man who planned a beautiful house; it was to' have three fine sitting-rooms downstairs, a large kitchen, a big hall, and a conservatory; up above there were to be sis bedrooms, a bathroom, etc.; in fact, it was to be a very fine house indeed. However, before he started to build, he thought he had better ask a friend to come and look at the plans. The friend arrived and gazed for a long time at the drawings. At length he turned to the man who had drawn them and said, "Yes, it is* certainly a very beautiful house, but haven't- you forgotten one very important "thing? You have designed some beautiful rooms for downstairs, and some equally beautiful'rooms for upstairs, but you have made no plans,for a staircase, nor have you even left room for it." And so he had t8 begin all over again. Well, I don't want to be like that man, sa before I bring my "plans" for Patrol Leadership to a close I must remember to put in the staircase. After all, we are Tather like builders; the foundation and starting point of our work -is represented by the boy who comes to us as raw material, who is attracted in some way by the Scout idea and' at length screws up courage enough to come along to the "Den" and find out what it is like there. Then we start to build. We know what we want him to become; that is, a good Scout; but what is there.to connect the two? How.ie.he to climb up from the ground floor;.of ordinary boyhood to the top story of -good Scouting? There must b? a staircase. What is it? The answer is, the ScQut Promise. "On my honour,: I:promise'that Ijwill do my best—to ■ do,,my duty to God - and the King, -to"''help other people at • all times, to obey the Scout Law." Remember, Patrol' Leaders, that no methods, however attractive, can produce good Scouts unless at the back of all there is the desire to keep this promise yourself, and to help your Patrol to do the same. . .

Sir. Alfred Robin, Hori! Metropolitan Commissioner, was, with the Ist Wellington City Rovers last Wednesday evening, when he took the quest of "Obedience." Sir .Alfred qu6ted an extract from Roland Phillips' "Letters to a:. Patrol Leader," which reads "But supposing one day, I hope it never will happen to any of you, you get an order which you know to be wrong. 'What then?' Then you must ■tell yourself- that this is one of the biggest moments in your life; Yon will remember that first of all your promise was. to do your duty, to God. If ever in your life the two orders seem to clash you will do your duty to God rather than ■obey the orders of man." The talk; was one that all Rovers who were privileged to hear should benefit by, as the understanding of our Scout Laws as "seen through the eyes of a man, and no longer the.e^es of a boy," play a very important place in Rovering. Rover Squire K. Petersen was invested by the Court of Honour. Lady District Officer Mrs. E. Barltrbp and Mr. Barltrop, Dr. Allan Tennent, Scouter Christison, and Mr. Hooa were present. On Anzac Day morning, the Group paraded at the Cenotaph, , where Padre the Rev. Harry Johnson delivered an inspiring address upon the spirit of Anzac. Rover.R. Jefferys laid the wreath "Lest, We Forget," • after which, those, present paid their respects in the shrine. ■ ' ,

. The Ist Lower. Hutt Group report a most successful year, having reduced Vthc debt on the building from £600 to £20 in a very short time. The chairman, Mr. R. House, congratulated the committee and .warmly thanked the ladies for organising the card evenings, which have proven1 so popular throughout the year. The social secretary, Mrs. M. A. Saville, was also heartily thanked for the splendid work she had carried out, also the Group Scoutmaster, Mr. E. L. McK'enzie, and the Cubmaster, Mr. D. Horlor, for their comprehensive reports. For some months the Rover Crew has been working .directly under the Senior Rovermate (Ken. Oliver) and the Crew Court of Honour, and under these 'Circumstances really , great progress ha a been made. We are, of course, \rr touch with the Rdyer, Scout Leader (Hugh Milher), who has been with us so

long. It is with regret that -we learned of the accident to Senior Rovermate Ken Oliver, and ive accord him our very cordial wishes for a speedy recovery. Tents.—Many things should be considered by a Seouter in purchasing a tent for his troop, and it is intended in these notes to give a few hints which may prove useful to the inexperienced. It should be remembered that a tent is not a residence, but is merely a shelter against ram. What kind of tent is the best to buy? For patrol tenti the choice is restricted to square or circular tents. Both have their advantages, but-it is thought that the square tent is more to be recommended than the circular. The main disadvantage of' square tents are that they are more expensive and that they present greater resistance to the wind The circular tent is . cheaper and offers less front to the gale. The advantages of,the square tent over, the circular and wedge 1 tent are that it is more roomy giving a greater cubic content of air; that it can be provided with a fly, and that it can be aired on even tKe rainiest of days During stormy weather such as at Easter' this last advantage was manifest. It is true that many bell tents have ventilators placed near the top of the pole, but consider the sufficiency of the same. The boy at home sleeps in a room with a cubic content of, GT!y, about 1000 feet—he sleeps also, if he is wise, with his window open as much as possible. If, however, a Patrol is, housed in a bell tent the air available to each boy is reduced to some, thing hke 100 cubic feet at the outside If the door must be kept closed on account of the inclemency of the weather it is not difficult to imagine the state of the air breathed by the unfortunate boys whose lot it is to sleep in such a tent In the case of a square tent the cubic content of air is only about 140 feet p«r boy, but such a tent with a good fly may be ventilated at all times by means of an open door or window. Fresh air ;s the greatest requirement-for the growing boy, and this fact makes it absolutely necessary that ample provision should be made for its supply. A square tent may be eaaly ventilated by means of a window placed m the end—in this case the entrance may be changed as the wind varies. Even with these provisions, it is desirable that there • Bhould be a ventilator or two in the tent roof. It is also essential that every tent should be provided with brailing cords so that the walls may be raised to permit the free circulation of air throughout the i'ent.; Notes for this column should be forwarded to "Seouter," 95, Courtenay *>lace, first mail Monday morning.