Boy Scouts and Cubs

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 96, 10 April 1926, Page 10

Boy Scouts and Cubs

OUR NATIVE LAND. God bless our Fatherland! Cradled in ocean. Nursed into greatness By storm and by sea, Out on the stormy winds, And in wars’ commotion, She had no helper, Jehovah, but Thee? x God bless our Fatherland! W Men who have loved her, F Lived for her glory, And died for her fame. Men who have ruled her. And men who have served her. Ruled in Thy fear, Lord, And served in Thy name. It is s'ome time. Scouts, since we had a patriotic verse at the head of our _ column. And every Scout is patriotic. That comes in the second J-YiTr i Scout , is lo v al -” He is faithful to patrol leader or second to even* Scout officer whatever his rank ; he is. loyal to the big brotherhood of which he is a unit. But his loyalty goes far beyond the limits of tlie Scout troop. He has parents, possibly other relatives, sisters brothers cousins and so on. To his family he snould be true. They most likely are worth being proud of and he shou.d see that he so acts that they will all be proud of him. Pathfinder is proud of many Scouts he knows and has known, Scouts who always play the game. Their honour is to be trusted. But again, the Scout goes to school or belongs to some business firm, or sports club or church. Let him see that his loyalty extends to each. Then his native land—whether New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada — let him be proud of the land of his birth. Of our Empire we may all justly feel proud. What noble deeds have been done in the piast by her great men 1 What great plans* thev entertain for the future I So when/ we see the national flag and thinF of the vast British Empire, or of our sunny New Zealand, let our hearts raise this ,suitable Scout prayer, “God Bless bur Fatherland!” DOINGS IN WELLINGTON. Tn the booklet issued bv Dominion headquarters, every troop and committee are urged and expected to arrange for, at least, one “parents’ night” during the year. _Most troops have at least one night in the week for mother and father. To-night in Wellington will be one for mother and father ard their friends also. In the annual Town Hall display accommodation is limited, but at the Basin Reserve there is room for all. Scouts were accordingly expected to briffg so many friends that even there the space would be fully occupied. At Ngaio, Wellington, two weeks ago, a new troop was formed. The Commissioner, District Scoutmaster, and several Scoutmasters, with the district secretary, attended. The aims of Scouting and the duties of a troop committee were explained, and then a troop committee wai formed. Twenty local boys were present, and will be the first members. Mr. S. A. Vine, at present attached to Institute Troop, who is a Toe H volunteer, was placed in charge until such time as a resident of Ngaio could be found to assume the duties of Scoutmaster. The troop is unattached, and open to boys of any denomination. A meeting was to be held thib week at Seatoun to form a troop committee, and it was hoped that th© Scouts enrolled would be on parade to-day. This troop also will be entirely unsectarian. Again the Scoutmaster difficulty has been overoomo. It was expected that between ].W and 1400 Scouts and Cubs would be on the Basin Reserve for the rally this afternoon. A place was to b© found for eveiy boy, even member* of the three troops formed in th*last two weeks and of any other troops which might b© formed before April 10. ® JELLICOE TRIDENT. The competitions among Sea Scouts for the Jellico© Trident at present held bv the Nelson Sea Scouts, is competed for every two years, and is judged by a special officer sent from Christchurch. Lieu-tenant-Commander Tebbs. R.N., has inspected the various troops in the past, and was due to make an inspection last month. Owing to a breakdown in health, however, the tour had to be cancelled, and, owing to inability to find another officer to take his place, the competitions will not bo held this year. ® A ROYAL LETTER. The Council of the Boy Scours’ Association was held, under the pre-r sidency of Sir Robert Baden-Powell. Admiral of the Fleet Earl JelHcoe was elected a member of the Council. The following letter from the Duke of Connaught, president of the association, was read by Sir Robert Baden-Powell, when moving the adoption of tho report: “I feel that 1 must congratulate you on the__great increase of 48,957 Scouts throughout the Empire during the past year, making a total of 474,195 up to date. I fully recognise how hard all connected with the great Scout Movement must rave worked during the year 1925. It is sad to have to recognise that many more boys might have joined were it not for the want of more men to take charge of them. That ’s the one and constant difficulty rhat we are faced with, and I know how fiard it is to get more scoutmasters, and no effort must be spared to ’ry and meet this difficulty. I am very pleased to hear of the increased num- • her of Scouts that have visited foreign countries. Kent has done *»onderfully in this respect. “I very much regret that my absence from England will prevent my attending the annual meeting of the council and the dinner. I will send you a message which I hope will show the continued interest I take in the movement. It is especially satisfactory. to know that a number of Overseas Governors will be present, wno have given valuable help to the movement during their term of office.” ® ® ® A SCOUT IS CLEAN. He is very much of a Tenderfoot who thinks this refers only to h»nds and face. A Scout, a real Scout, knows that his whole bady must be clean, inside as well as out. His very mind must be pure and white; only good thoughts are to be allowed and only good feelings to be entertained. Bad thoughts are dirty and impure, and defile one’s inside, blacken one’s character, spoil one’s health, harm one’s soul. “A Scout is clean in thought.” as well as in word and deed But cleanliness extends beyond our body, our mind, our clothes, our room, our home. It includes the belongings of other people. So in parks and theatres, in halls and churches a Spoilt is clean. The attention of all srouters ’s drawn to th© fact that all grounds used by

troops should be left neat and clean. Paper ar d loose kindling should be burned, sticks, etc., stacked away from any open space, and any holes dug should be filled in and the sod ■, replaced. The same is true of camping grounds. No litter must be left behind. Trenches are to be filled in, rubbish removed, fireplaces concealed as far as possible and no sign left of one’s camping spot. It was noticeable on the Havelock Hills on Monday that some of the Scouts, leaders even, were inclined to leave fireplaces and other litter about. Remember, Scouts, that’s not the thing. Show gratitude by always leaving a place trim and tidy. ® ® STEADY PROGRESS. Steady progress had been going on under the surface all the year, said Sir Robert. The slackness of trade and the amount of unemployment checked the supply of scoutmasters, on whose numbers depended the increase in the number of boys. There seemed to be a want of any definite call to service among the better off better educated, "but there was considerab’e hope for the future. “I would draw attention to the work that is being carried on in getting the public schools interested in scouting, and thereby developing the training of the better-off young men in a sense of service to the community, as well as assuring the movement of a future supply of publicschool men as scoutmasters,” said Sir Robert. The Wolf Cubs were coming on at such a pace as to mase it difficult to find room for them in the ranks of the Scouts with the present shortage of men. Scouters from some thirty-three different foreign countries had been trained at their • training centre at Gillwell Park. ® ® ® , THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. The Dominion Chief Commissioner has been visiting the North Island recently, and in his report to the Dominion Executive Committee he commends the following troops: Matamata (Scoutmaster R. B. Simnson). Stratford (Scoutmaster W ; H. Humphrey), Eltham (Scoutmaster C. J. Rogers). Waverlev (Scoutmaster E. J. Daboume), Marton (Scoutmaster P. H. Leonard). Levin (Scoutmaster J. C. Davies). He deplored the failure of most committees and scoutmasters to realise the importance of finding officers from among the lads of the troops, instead of constantly bringing in outsiders who knew nothing about the work. He pointed out that tho Matamata and Eltham Troops were run by voung men who were themselves Bov Scouts onlv a couple of vears ago and thev now had the best troops in the Waikato and Taranaki districts respectively. On the recommendation of the rfiief Commissioner the Waharoa Troop has been disbanded e and the scoutmaster’s warrant withdrawn, and the Te Awamntu Troop is temporarily closed until a suitable scoutmaster can he obtained and a committee established on a proper foot-

ing. Colonel E. W. Porritt, Paeroa, has been appointed District, Commissioner for the Thames Valley District. ® ® & $ LOYAL SERVICES. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, the Dominion Chief Scout, has been pleased to make the following awards “in recognition of their loyal services rendered in connection with the recent Dunedin Jamboree” to:—District Commissioner W. F. Meek, honorary medal of merit; Scoutmaster R. W. Moore, certificate of merit; Cubmaster G- E. T. Dorman, certificate of merit. The application of District Commissioner Meek to award a special jamboree badge to all those who participated in the Dunedin Jamboree has been approved. SCOUTS IN SAMOA. The Chief Commissioner reports that the Bov Scout movement has now been replaced with what is known as Fotu-o-Samon a movement st*"*fed bv Sir George Richardson. Th« appointment of District Commissioner for Samoa, held bv Captain W M. Bell. A.D.C.. Government House. Apia. Samoa, has lapsed as from March 5, 1926. (&> Qp yp SUCCESSFUL BADGE WINNERS. The two Hastings Y.M.C.A. troops are aiways biuziug mi tn purposeful activity. llie visit to Luuemn oi t».o patrols gave uie buys a new and wmer conuepLion ox Scout work and aeveaied to tnem just bow they stood in coinpunson witn other troops in tne xuaucer oi badges and general bcout eniciency. io the boys credit n is put on record that though only twu iield first-class badges during the Jamooree, several others have secured this distinction, two have attained to King Scout rank and one has gamed his ad round cords (green and yeliow). The following are the successful Scouts:— All Round Cords.—Troop Leader R. Stevenson. King Scout.—Troop Leader R. Stevenson and Patrol Leader F. Lowe. First-class Scouts.—Patrol Leader H. Ribbands. Ambulance.—R. Stevenson and F. Lowe. . Swimmer’s Badge.—Patrol Leader A. Robertson. Pathfinder Badge.—R. Stevenson, A. Robertson, F. Lowe, J. O’Neill. Philatelist.—E. Apsey, R. Stevenson, J. Simpson, J. O’Neill. L. Fredsberg, J. Cooper, G. Cooper, E. Langley. E. Elphick. On all sides it is recognised that a badge in itself is of practically no value. No more is any decoration or diploma or certificate, in itself. The thing of value is the skill, the knowledge, the practical ability for which the badge stands. And all tho above-mentioned boys deserve congratulation on securing the various decorations. Like true Scouts, lot each one see that the knowledge and practical proficiency is kept up so the badge .may never lose its meaning. And may scores of others in the Y.M.C.A. and other troops push on until they too can wear the King Scout emblem and the handsome all round cords. ® ® ® ® OUR FATHERLAND. Gnd bless our Fatherland! Land of the faithful. Slain for their staunchness; Exulting in flame; All things forsaken Yet valiant and joyful; These were her children And bore her dear name. Go-i bless our Fatherland!* Wide wave her banner Over a people Contented and free! Be 'her Defender. Her Shield and Protector, Long mar she serve Thee On land and on sea! —Sir Nathaniel Barabv, K.C.B. 1904.