THE CHIEF SCOUT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15902, 13 April 1912, Page 13

THE CHIEF SCOUT.

GENERAL BADEN-POWELL’S

VISIT.

DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME.

Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Cliioi' Scout, has received the following letter, dated “ Vancouver, March 14,” from the founder of the Boy Scout mover nient, General Sir Robert BadenPowell, who is on his way to Now Zealand to inspect the Dominion Boy Scouts aDd Girl Peace Scouts. Sir Robert has asked Colonel Cossgrovo. to make known the contents of the letter to the Scout officers at the centres which have been included in the Chief Scout’s itinerary:— “ I am looking forward very much to seeing your Scout officers and Scouts, and to hearing from, you any suggestions or questions which you may ha.vc to put to me. In the meantime, there are one or two points which I would like to put before your Association. “ I am travelling with a view to getting some rest and change needed after heavy work at homo. J am, therefore, obliged to ask to bo excused all the entertainments and receptions which havo been so generously offered to me; 1 should fee) very gratified if you would kindly let this be generally known. I can only undertake the actual inspection of Scouts and some lectures to explain the movement. I am particularly averse to receptions on arrival, or guards of honour or escorts, and I hope that Scoutmasters will, therefore, not trouble to turn out their hoys.

“In explaining the policy of the movement to the public, I proposo to show that our primary aim is to make the boys into young backwoodsmen and good citizens. We do not go in. for military training any more than we do for a religious one. These points we leave to others. At the same time our practical development of 1 character ’ in the hoys lays the groundwork of manliness and sense of duty, which is the essential and only basis oil which all these other. developments can successfully be produced. “ The Socialist and Labour leaders now recognise that we are not hostile to them, and are non-political, hut merely want to give the jvoorest hoy a fair start in life. And the heads of almost all religious denominations are on our Council and approve our nonsectarian attitude.

M Theso are points which I often find are not sufficiently known, and which 1 will enlarge upon * in the lectures which I have already arranged to give; they might, therefore, well be promulgated before my arrival. I only hope that educationalists, and gentlemen likely to bo interested and useful to the movement, will be moved to attend them, as this method of getting their practical sympathy lias had very successful results in America. ,

“As regards the programme of inspection of Scouts, T am delighted to see anything that your Scoutmasters care to show mo (except military parados or drills).. I look upon tho patrol as the unit, and the patrol leader as the responsible officer, and I carry out my inspections on that, basis. 1 am glad to see the exhibition of any .practical work, and tho more original it is, and the more varied, so much , the better, as it is by this that I judge of the individnalitv and ability of. tho Scoutmaster. For big assemblages of Scouts we never use the old-fashioned military parade: but, if in the open, , the circular rally, as described in the handbook; and if in a building or confined place, tho Scouts form spiral by following their leader till the Scouts are all circling round the inspecting officer, when the command : Halt, sit down’ is given and carried out in strictsilence. 1 generally say a few words to tho Scouts on conclusion of tho review. and I like to collect tho Scoutmasters afterwards, to he introduced to them and speak to them. “ Forgive my going into these dotails, but as many Scout officers ask mo theso little points 1 have thought it may save you some trouble if 1 give the answers in anticipation of the questions. 1 should be grateful if you could kindly communicate them to your Commissioners and Scoutmasters.

“ I havo three gentlemen travelling with me as my assistants, Messrs Noel Van Raalte, Insole and AAT’ouglitou. We are all looking forward verv much to our visit to tho New Zealand Scouts.”