IDEALS OF SCOUTING

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 21 February 1933, Page 8

IDEALS OF SCOUTING

DISTRICT COMMISSIONBR-’S ADVICE. ADDRESS TO STRATFORD TROOP. “Keep your ideals high,” was the advice given( Jbfy District- Commissioner, F. W. Horner, in an address to Stratford Boy Scouts on Friday evening -on the occasion of the official -opening of their hall. When Lord Baden Powell was in New Zealand he said he would like to see the boys in -a -hall where they could put on the walls examples l of thenwork, results of their various 'hobbies and the certifieaes- gained, said Commissioner Horner. Lord Baden Powell had said lie would rather the scouts looked upon it as a den than as a hall. Insofar as Stratford was concerned, the troop was fortunate in possessing a -place l upon which they could look with a, feeling of proprietor,ship, which naturally added a greater interest. “You/ are what might be termed pioneers,” .said the Commissioner in pointing out that the ground about the hail was all unbroken, and that/ the boys would have to clean up and sow 1 igrft&s* tscßcl, in tiict do cvoiytiling themselves towards the making of a real den. , , “Sco-ufing is .a- brotherhood, and the greatest the world knows,” said Commissioner Horner. Growing from four troops of 20 scolds at Brownsea Island, England, 23 years' ago', the movement had grown until it noiv boasted a membership of 2,000,000. There was developed the idea of -scouting with the principle of making the best, type, ol men. The reason for such growth lay in the fact that it was a and the Commissioner considered that '•never, as now, was there such a need 'to practice it. “You will find lheir who try to split you up,” said Commissioner Horner, “but if y°u live U P to your promises you will contribute largely to solve the troubles of the world.” . , . , , A feature of the evening winch he was especially pleased to notice, said the Commissioner, was the large attendance of parents. It. was sv good sign, as their presence proved the Scout training had not- stayed in the hall but made itself manifest in the home, and again it was a tribute to the good work carried out by Rio Scoutmaster and his assistants. the parents could create a spirit of -sympathv and greatly assist the Scoutmaster. as nothing was more discouraging to a, bov than the lack of interest -of his parents in Scout work. “Don’t make the mistake of rubbing it' in’ if the boy does not conform rigidly to the Scout laws,” .said the Commissioner to the parents. J hcy ar > only boys, but they ate tryers. No community was complete without a troop, as the Scouts were not only a great help, but were also the citizens of to-morrow, and in this respect, Commissioner Horner considered that Stratford could be proud of the troop. “People will judge you not b v what you are. in, the Scout hall, hut when' they learn yon are Scouts they will look twice at you, and you must live up to your traditions and see that they lose none of their lustre.’-