HAWERA SCOUTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 September 1924, Page 10

HAWERA SCOUTS.

ANNUAL AIEETING

The annual meeting or citizens controlling the Ha wera Scout troup was held ill the Borough Council Chambers last night, when his Worship the Mayor (Mr L. A. Bone) presided over a fair attendance. 1 * ANNUAL REPORT.

The secretary, Mr E. Evans, presented the annual report as follows: In presenting this, the third annual report of the Hawera Boy Scouts, I am pleased to say that during the early stages of the year affairs went merrily along, but owing to our shifting population we had difficulties in securing proper instructors.. The annual scout camp was held on the AVaingongoro, near the Electric Company’s power house, from December 27, 1923, to January 10, 1924, where 35 to 40 scouts spent a most enjovabld time under Scoutmaster West. I most sincerely thank all those ladies and gentlemen who spared no pains to make the camp a success. Special thanks are due to Mesdames Burrell, Vinten, Eraser, Hawkins, and to Messrs Hobbs, Hawkins, Fraser, Fake, and Scoutmaster AVest. Sinoe June last we have been unable to give the boys instruction owing to Scoutmaster AVest resigning, and, further, I feel that we are not doing justice to. the boys by asking them to turn out on parade on the stormy winter nights without a suitable building in which to give instruction. The present drill hall is anything but suitable owing to the dusty clay floor. However, we deeply appreciate the Defence authorities allowing us the use of the hall, and for which I sincerely thank them; at the same time I would like to see a forward movement made to provide proper accommodation for the boy scouts. Owing to short notice of this meeting and the fact of Monday being a bank holiday, I regret to say- we cannot place a balance-sheet before you, except to state that little has been done to augment the present funds, which stand as follows: P.O. Savings Bank £7l 3s Bd, amount invested £242 5s sd, interest accrued on ' same £ls; total building fund £328 9s 3d. AVe have also in hand an amount of £lO odd as the nucleus for a drum and fife band. During the 1 year the secretary, Mr L. C. Storm, and'Commissioner Johnstone resigned, the resignations of both of which we accepted with regret. Mr F. AV. Horner has'been appointed commissioner in place of Mr "Johnstone by Dominion headquarters. I know the movement has Mi- Horner’s wholehearted support, and it only requires your sympathy with the support of a strong committee to. back it up to make it a success. In conclusion, I wish to thank the AVomen’s National Reserve for a donation towards the building fund, Miss Gladys Moore for £lO odd towards the drum and file band fund, and our special thanks are due to Mr Crutch for his assistance as temporary scoutmaster.—The report was adopted.. The chairman drew attention to the fact , that the scout movement educated boys in the ideals of good citizenship, and in the course of the detailed working taught them such things as wood carving, nature study, and also trained them in self-reliance. Instruction in such handicrafts resulted in the boys taking up hobbies which very often they followed up in after years and put to practical use. Boys had plenty of energy, and it was a good thing to turn that energy into proper channels. The one thing they were in need of in Hawera was instructors, but he hoped that this would be overcome this. year. Proceeding, Mr Bone said' that* he hoped that this year’s committee would see that all scouts in the troup who qualified received their badges. A further suggestion made by Mr Bone was that a good drum and fife band should be inaugurated. Such a band would not cost very much, and would be an acquisition to the town. In conclusion, the speaker referred to the scout laws, than which he said there was nothing better to put before parents or hoys. Air Horner, commissioner for * this district, said that General Andrews and his executive were watching the progress of the Hawera troup very closely, and letters from General Andrews had all been in the direction of advising them not to rush things, but to be sure, and build the foundation of the movement on right lines. ’ This, said Mr Horner, had been the policy of the committee. During the past year they had experienced some difficulty in getting instructors to carry on fhe parades, but Air Crutch had filled the breach. For this coining year they had been fortunate in securing the services of Air Booth, a capable and enthusiastic officer, who was also a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen. Continuing, Mr Horner said that a difficulty which they had to face in Hawera was the lack of a suitable building. A further point raised by the speaker was that more advan- . tage should be taken of the Saturday afternoon parades. -It would be necessary to continue the evening parades, but it was honed that they would be short, and the boys would*be able to get home by 8.45 n.m. For the coming year they had offers from various gentlemen to give instruction in certain subjects, and a great deal of good should result. The following committee was elected to carry on the work during the ensuing year: Mess's E. Evans, T C Hobbs, AV. R. Taylor, AV. T. Johnson, and AA,. Hawkins, and Atesdames Hobbs. Burrell, Ewington, Fraser, and Hawkins.

-Mr L. A. Bone was elected president. It was decided to endeavour to enrol a number of honorarv members at a. fee of 2s fid. It was suggested that shortly after the first parade a “bun fight” should be held with a view to bringing a good rowd of boys together and enrolling a number of boys in the troup. It was further suggested that the function should take the form of a social evening and the parents should also attend. The matter of the first parade was left to Mr Evans and Scoutmaster Booth. It was decided that- an effort should be made to hold a camp at Christmas time and to obtain the co-operation of the Anglican scout troup. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.