VALUED WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21511, 16 September 1944, Page 8

VALUED WORK

SCOUTS ASSOCIATION PRAISE BY GOVERNOR (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. IG. Commendation of the work of Scout officers, who gave so ireelv of their time and energy towards making good citizens of young people, was voiced by the Governor-General. Sir Cyril Newell, when speaking as Dominion Chief Scout at the annual meeting of the Boy Scouts' Association of New Zealand. He added that many organisations were doing similar work, but he knew of none better than the Scout movement.

His Excellency congratulated the association on the progress it line! made and particularly emphasised the valued work done by Miss Mary Wilson over a period of years in directing cub activities. The fact that the association had been invited to be represented at the education conference in October, he said, was a very healthy sign of the high regard in which" the Scout movement was held. The movement was steadily growing and a start had recently been made in Western Samoa.

In moving the adoption of the annual report, the Dominion Chief Commissioner, Mr. Hector Christie, said that seven years ago there were 11,000 Scouts in New Zealand, but today the number had risen to 19,000. in a period which included live war years during which many friendships nad been cemented through the movement with nationals of other lands. The wartime policy had been to intensify the Scout movement. The numbers in themselves were not of greatest importance; quality counted far more. They wanted their Boy Scouts to be real scouts in every sense of the word.

“It is likely that our point of view may differ from that of educationists for scouting has taught us that the education of children star is off on the wrong foot,” said Mr. Christie, intimating that the invitation to be represented at the education conference in Christchurch in October had been accepted. “We believe that the emphasis should be placed on the spiritual and moral side of life rather than on the academic side. We find that in these days there is great disregard among people for the rights and feelings of others. The spirit of scouting is designed to change that viewpoint by never allowing it to arise.” Mr. W. P. Birchall, Dunedin, Mr. H. N. Toorner, Nelson. Mr. G. E. Dorman, Invercargill, Mr. R. N. Barton, Wairarapa, Mr. D. Crosbic, Christchurch, and Mr. J. E. H. Mewett, Palmerston North, were new members elected to the Dominion executive.