BOY SCOUTS.

Evening Star, Issue 23834, 14 March 1941, Page 2

BOY SCOUTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —With the assistance of the Dunedin Metropolitan Commissioner, who quotes Rule 20 in full, I have apparently established the fact that Scouts may not lake part in street sales or collections, either on behalf of themselves or anyone else. Let us not quibble as to whether a boy at the business end of a collection box might or might not be mistaken for a messenger. I had already quoted Rule 20, with tho exception of the reference to messengers . and programme sellers, which did not apply in this instance. Let me proceed to quote Rule 21, which, under the heading ‘ Illegal and Undesirable Methods,’ says: “All members of the association acting as such must observe the provisions of Rule 20 ” —i.e., must not take part in street collecting. Then again Rule 26 says: “The following are considered, members of the association: —Scouts, Scouters, persons holding non-c-eculive or honorary rank, members of the council.” These rules must be read in conjunction, and are so perfectly clear that if any other rule provides a loophole to permit street collecting it is incumbent on 'the commissioner to name it without any more parleying. Tho commissioner must have failed to see my further inquiry as to how much of the £3OO collected some months ago was disbursed in the direction indicated in the Press advertisement prior to the collection. I would appreciate a brief reply stating (1> amount expended on “.helping the boys.” (2) amount expended on purely administrative expenses.—l am, etc., Honour No. 2. March 14.