Boy Scout Movement.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1922, Page 1

Boy Scout Movement.

‘ LOVE OP COUNTRY.”

WELLINGTON, Marcli 21

In addresses to tlife local Rotary Club to-day, General A. W. Andrew and Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., spoke of the necessity for helping along the Boy Scout movement.

General Andiew, in the course of bis remarks, said Bible classes, Sunday schools, and secular education had failed. through no fault, of the teachers, to balance, the tendencies of the present time to upset established law and order. Character training could not be carried out when boys were grouped in forties and fifties, and that was why liaden-Powell had insisted that but eight wr nine boys should be under the troop officer. Our young men must be taught to be not only loyal citizens of New Zealand, but loyal citizens of the Empire, for loyalty t«o the Sovereign meant confidence in his rule. The Scout movement, he argued, was doing good work in that direction.

Mr Isitt remarked upon the impera-1 tire necessity of giving the country’s youth an ethical training which would break the growth of sabotage of the most dangerous type. A man who threw a handful of sand into a moving machine might destroy the machine, but that damage was infinitesimal compared with the injury wrought upon an apprentice by those who dinned into his head, “ Don’t be a damned young fool; take your time.” The impression on the mind of that youth after two years or so was not to be wiped away in many years. To-day the country had a secular education. Biblical teaching, one of the great foundations of character, was almost wholly neglected by the average parent, and there were thousands of children who had not the slightest knowledge of Biblical history, that factor in character training being almost wholly eliminated. There remained love of, and pride in, country, and love of, and pride in, work. Mr Tsitt spoke of the evidences of the " infernal doctrine of go-slow ” wherever one cared to look—on the wharves, in Government works, in private enterprise. There still remained the love of country. For years he had watched a section of the House of Representatives, and had listened and striven to understand their attitude towards the Empire. All that time he had listened for one word of appreciation of their country. Never had he heard it.