SCOUTING IN H.B.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 79, 16 March 1935, Page 8

SCOUTING IN H.B.

ACTIVITIES LAST YEAR Lack of Public interest | COMMISSIONER’S REPORT The annual general meeting of the I Hawke s Bay Scout Supporters’ Association was held on Wednesday in the I A. and J > . Society’s board-room. Mr j I*. F. Hunter presided over the meet- | mg, and m his opening remarks mentioned his gratification at the presence of several members of the association who were not actively engaged in Scouting. The usual thing was, be said, to arrive at the general meeting and find that, only active Seoul, officers were prer ent, I lie committees of troops having found it impossible to attend, while the public, included in whom were the parents of Scouts, made a point of not attending on principle. It was very encouraging, therefore, to have present several non-aetive members, for this showed that interest in the movement was at last being aroused. CommUsioner J, It. 11. Cooksey presented his annual report on Scouting m Hawke’s Bay as follows:— “Scouting in this district has made steady progress during the past year, t lie. groups in the area now number 11 — that is, 14 Scout troops, nine Cub packs, and one distiict Rover crew, two new troops have been lormed, one in Hastings, and one in Mecanee. The development of the Cub packs has been particularly ■satisfactory. This is due to the enthusiasm of. the District LadyCubmaster, Mrs Lcikis, who ha* gathered round her a splendid band ol Lady-Cubmasters, and by her untiring efforts has given them a good start in their work. This is a hopeful sign lor the Scouting of the future, for it i« from the Culls that we draw our older boys. We are very grateful to Mrs Li'ikis for the way in which she has placed her home at the disposal of Cubmasteis for meetings. BENEFIT OF TESTS. “All Scout troops are in a healthy condition, and there is evidence that the raiding of the standard in regard to tests ha* had a very beneficial icsult in the retaining of our elder boys. It has made them realise that although Scouting is termed a game, it is a serious one, and worth playing according to rules. Another very satisfactory sign is the increase in the number of Scouts qualifying tor First Class ami King's Scout badges. “This improvement in standard is largely due to the efforts of our district Seouters, Mr E. Leikis, of Napier, ami Mr E. Dutton, of Hastings. Also the Seouters in chaige oi troops are all working more enthusiastically and more serioutiy. The Rover brancn is feeling its way, but is handicapp< d tor the want ot leaders. Uns is the young men’s branch of Scouting, and one. that, at times nko the present, should have the great support of all. as our young men Hom 1S upwards ate faced witn great problems and big temptations. At present a district crew is working, but this is not an ideal formation, lor the object is rather tor small bodies of young men to work under a senior leader ot 25 or 30 years of age. We should welcome' any such gentleman who desires knowledge of this branch of Scouting with the idea of helping. "At the recent jamboree in Australia, Hawke’s Bay was worthily represented by one Commissioner, three Seouters, two Lady-Oubmasters and 16 Scouts. It is gratifying to feel that we are alive to the world-wide significance of Scouting, and it also gives us feelings of pride that New Zealand's contingent made so splendid ' an impression on other overseas Scouts. “At the Spring Show the Scouts again gave satisfactory service to the public and the A. and P. Society, and as a result were able to make a substantial donation to the hospital wireless fund. Il A N 1 )CR A FT EX 1118 TJTON’. “The annual handcraft exhibition was an even greater success than ot previous years, but was particularly marked by the absence of the public! This year it will be held in Napier, and it is hoped that greater support will be given. “The annual swimming contest was again won by Havelock North. Unfortunately some hitch prevented the Napier troops, or most of them, from entering, but the standard of those who did enter, both from Napier and Hastings, was very good, 'the contest for the premier troop has not yet been held, as it was decided to alter the date. “The interest taken by troop committees has, on the whole, 1 think, improved, but there is still room tor great improvement in many quarters. Scouting is a serious asset to our national life, and demands continued effort and enthusiasm from all concerned even if it means, as it so often does, personal sacrifice. “The visit ot our Chief, and the Chief Guide and their daughters, and also the visit ot Colonel Walton, has done much to inspire all workers with fresh enthusiasm, and signs of awakening interest and a better understanding of our aims and objects are already evident in the public. Such a figure at our Chief will, of course, draw a great many people who have not before thought seriously about Scouting and its aims, and it is to be hoped that the interest which was evinced by the large crowd at the Beatson Park camp fire will not fade away, but will result m workers coming forward, and in better support generally “I think that I may say how particularly fortunate we are in having such a splendid band ot Seouters m this district. The spirit of unity and brotherhood which unites them makes my own efforts a pleasure. I therefore appeal to parents and others interested in the welfare of our young people to back these young men and women up, and to see that the sacrifices of time, and, ] know, often of money, are not made too heavy through lack of interest and moral and material support. I would like to express t > them mv personal appreciation ot the!!' cltorts IRA LU NG 01 SCO I IFRS. “The training of Seouters is an essential part ot successful Scouting, I and 1 would point out to employers i that when an employee asks tor a few ■ days' leave, he or she does not do ,o for personal enjoyment. A training ! course is a strenuous affair. It would I probably surprise you to know that a Seouters’ course consists ot 36 lectures and practical demonstrations, with a tew spare time activitiea thrown tn to make good measure. Be-

sides this there is a two-day hike. “Now, such a course must cost money, and I would point out that most Scouters pay this themselves. This is done lor the benefit of .your children. Is it lair that they should pay it? 1 ask committees to think this over, it is proposed to hold a Scouters’ training camp as above in Hawke's Bay at Easter, and I trust that no Scooter will be prevented from attending through lack of cash. “The Press ol this district has given us great support during the past year, and 1 would like to express to them our sincere appreciation. Not only have, they given us generous space for our weekly column, but have published well thought-out leaders and appeals, which coming from outside the movement are doubly valuable. “Although it is not our wish to be continually appealing for financial support, it must be realised that a movement such as this cannot be run without expenditure. We recognise that in these days people are constantly giving money to one cause or another, but in spite ol this wc feel that Scouting must not be allowed to go to the wall through lack of working funds. The movement is of such importance, aid is doing such good national service, as to warrant the whole-hearted support ol the public. “As I stated, we have 14 groups in the, district and roughly 10 financial members of our Supporters’ Association, with an average of 5 - per member per year. So yon will see that we are faced with an impossibility. Stationery, postage, training, travelling, advertising and hire of halls cannot be borne by the individual. I therefore ask for your annual support. “Lastly, I wish to thank the District Executive and all committtecmen and workers.” MANY DIFFICULTIES. I The chairman, .Mr I*. F. Hunter, i.iI vitod questions on any points which Hie Commissioner had mentioned, and sevi oral members took advantage of this Uy asking that -Mr Cooksey explain to the meeting some of the difficulties which he had to lace in his work as Comims sioner. In replying, the Commissioner said that the greatest trouble he had to cope with was the extreme lack of public intterest in this district. People seem'd to have no knowledge of Scouting and 1 its aims, and no matter what one bid in the way of advertising it was apparently impossible to gather a crowd at any Scout function. The Chief Scout s Visit was an exception, of course, but even then it was quite apparent that the majority of the outsiders had come more out of Ciirju-uti (ba 11 t rn l;1 ;i ( j c sire to lean l , anything about Scoutin H . l'he Jamboree, too. bad helped to make the boys more enthusiastic, but this was not what was wanted. The boys were keen enough at any lime. It was the parents, troop committees, ami general puldie who wanted “stirring up. ' I These people did not seem t.. realise that the Scouters were doing their best tto make the boys under their care into better citizens. 'l'he Scouters gave time, ami very often money whith thev could ill afford so that their Stoula

f might turn out to bo decent, useful men, and for all the interest taken by parents their Scouts might have been all orphaned. “If anyone here can tell me a way of getting at the public,’’ continued the Commissioner, “I shall be deeply indebted to him. If I advertise soui“ Scout event in the Press, the public turns-the page over without looking ni it; if I send out notices, they put them in the fire; and if I broadcast a talk on Scouting, they switch over to New York or Chicago! ’’ The Cominissioner sat down amid laughter, but the question of public mtterest was raised again later in the evening, and it was decided that everything possible should be done to help the Napier South Scout Committee in its effort to get into touch with other committees extant in Napier and disrict with the object of furthering the movement in this district. A meeting of members of committees, Scouters, ami those interested has been called i r Monday, April I. by’ the Napier South Committee, and if. is hoped that lheic will be a. large attendance. STATE OF FINANCES Mr M. Williams, secretary to the association, spoke on the financial side of the year’s work. The present state of finance, he said, was anything but good. The jamboree had cost a good amount, and there were many other incidental expenses, but if the movement had received its proper share of support from parents and members of the Supporters’ Association, there was no reason why the capital of the association should not have been increasing instead of decreasing, as was the case. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Mr I’. F. Hunter was re-elect-ed chairman unopposed. The Commissioner mentioned the almost invaluab'e work Mr Hunter had done for the association, and said it would be impossible to find another man so lit for the job. Mr M. Williams agreed to his reelection as secretary and treasurer, but stated that if it were possible to find someone to replace him, he would like to retire, as the secretary’s position was becoming increasingly difficult; it was, in fact, almost a full time job, and he did not feel that he was doing justice to the association. If is hoped, however, that Mr Williams will remain in his position, for he has lendend sterling office during his period of office. l'he other members of the executive, were re-elected with power to add to their number and übject to thcii approi al. A general discusston of the position of Scouting in relation to world affaiis followed, and an exchange of ideas between members led the chairman, in Ins final speech, to remark that he was sure that Scouting was at last arous ng inI iorest, tor at most other supporters' meetings which he could remember retiring silence had been the order of the evening. Commissioner Cooksey proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and , this was approved with acclamation. (