SCOUTCRAFT

Evening Star, Issue 15515, 10 June 1914, Page 7

SCOUTCRAFT

[By Lumas.]

[Reports of matting* and parade» T items of interest, or question* should he addressed to “ Leader," cjo Y.M-C-A., Dunedin, before SJtQ on Monday of each wee A]

Mr J. B. Douglas, Donate Wi Quartermaster, spent a nl ,ht in Dunedin last week on his way south. * Leader ” was able to spend the evoking with him, and several matters of important* to scouts were discussed, which will be reported on later.

Addressing a meeting of scoutmasters at Manchester recently, Lady BadenPowell advocated the appointment of women as scoutmasters. Her husband declared, amidst much merriment, that he had done his best to keep women out of the movement, but he had bean gradually won round by his better-hall.^ It is about time (says a Northern paper) that the Government gave some financial assistance to the movement, and some concessions for the great work carried on and the splendid foundation in character-building as laid by the organisation in the coming men of our Dominion. Every application hitherto made has proved fruitless, though it has been pointed out that the Commonwealth Government have led the way by granting scouts and officers travelling in uniform on scout business half fare. It has been argued also that the South African Government have gone a step further by granting permission to scout® to continue their training until they are 18 years of age. Then they are drafted into the Territorials, and'the King's Scouts go in as non-commissioned officers. This, it will he remembered, is the proposal wh'ch Oolonel Cossgrove drafted for the South African Defence Committee, who met at Johannesburg some three years ago. and who wrote to Colonel Cossgrove for a scheme. We are apt to claim for New Zealand more advanced legislation, very often, than she deserves, and are just as often bound to confess that she is slow to grasp what is for her best interests. Suggestions are coming in from all parts of the Dominion now'for some concerted action at the approaching poll. On Wednesday evening the Ocean Beach Troop of *Boy Scouts held the ; r weekly meeting at the Central Battery. Although the numbers were few, on of the various shows, some excellent work was done. The troop also meet on Friday evenings as a club night, when all kinds of indoor games and reading are indulged in. On Saturday afternoon, June 6, members of the Ocean Beach Troop, under the S.M.s, paid a visit to the Sea Scouts’ parade, and were agreeibly surprised at the way in wh’ch the crew worked, every command being obeyed at an instant; and no ill-feeling whatever was shown, although the work was hard and tedious. Both S.M. Rasmussen and A.S.M. Gore think that the crew are a credit to their instructor (Mr " Cole), and they, along with the Ocean Beach Troop, wish them every success for vears to come.

Momington Battalion.—Xo. 1 Troop had a very fair muster on Friday evening. After a quiet talk by the C.S.M. on severa-l matters ot interest to tit© troop, the members (who elected the Rev. E. L. Woodhouse, M.A., as their chaplain) were instructed in physical exercises by the sergeant-major. Scouts Cargill and Seidehn were passed on Monday by the Chief Inspector for their ambulance badge. On Saturday the District Commander passed Sergeant-major A. Whelan in his distance judging. Sergeant-major Whelan is now a King’s Scout, having passed the necessary badges this year as follows :—Pathfinder, April 8; cyclist. May 9; ambulance. May 25; marksman, June 6. This badge will only hold good till next June unless he passes all badges again before that date, according to regulations. Xo. 2 Troop had rather a poor muster, due, no doubt, to the term holidays ; but good work was done, under Scoutmaster Jeffs, in semaphore and badge work, the leaders training the recruits. Xo. 3 Troop had a good muster on the previous Tuesday, when an extension of time was allowed on account of the holidays. After signalling, ambulance, and tenderfoot work was done. Scouts Crawford and L. S tana way rendered a couple of musical selections. Physical exercises and games were then indulged in, the scoutmasters taking their full share of the fun. The Dominion Quartermaster (Mr J. R. Douglass), who was passing through Dunedin for the south, was also present, with Scoutmaster Topp, of Green Island. Mr Douglass, who thoroughly enjoyed the evening, was very pleased with the work and discipline of the lads, and in a very neat little speech gave encouragement to all ranks. Two members passed their T.F. test and were sworn in. The band have been reformed, and are practising regularly. Member# are improving, and are receiving good theoretical training under Mr L. Story.

The Dunedin West-Central Battalion had no regular parades last week, as the time was spent in preparation for the forthcoming bazaar. The District Commander, however, paid an informal visit to the dab room of the No. 1 Troop, and presented a chief scoutmaster’s commission to the battalion commander. The commission bears the date March 51, 1914.