BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18584, 10 December 1920, Page 7

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed). The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Dominion Boy Scouts' Association was held at headquarters, Ohristchurch last Tuesday evening. Present: Brigadier-Genorai Andrew, C.M.G., in the chair, Colonel Fenwick, C.M.Q., Colonel Creswell, V.D., and Messrs D. 0. W. Cossgrove SJhief Commissioner), H. H. Smith, . S. J. Goodman and the Rev Crboli (Clerk to Council). A letter was read from the GovernorGeneral intimating his approval of the appointment of Mr Cossgrove as Chief Commissioner, and stating that the Chief Scout arid the Imperial Council would be communicated with as

desired. The Commissioner for Canterbury Central! reported that his officers in Christchurch had ,taken over the Sydenham troop band as a provincial band, and had defrayed the balance of the cost of the instruments. In accordance with the decision of tho council a deputation consisting of the ohairman, Colonel Fenwick and Mr Isitt, M.P., together with the Chief Commissioner will proceed to Wellington to interview the Prime Minister' and Ministers of Education and Defence on Friday morning regarding financial assistance to tho association and other matters connected with the Boy Scout movement. The chairman announced that with Mr Isitt he proposed to visit Dunedin in the near future for the purpose of assisting tho Provincial Commissioner in scout propaganda work. After considerable discussion regarding the brigading of church troops and their formation into separate scout districts it was decided that a sub-committee be formed oompvisJag the chairman, the Chief Commissioner, Colonel Creswell and the Rev W. H. Orbell, te find a solution and with power to act and come to an agreement ■ t It was resolved that, in accordance with the provision of the new Constitution, the position of financial secretary be abolished, and that Miss M. V. Oossgrove be .appointed general secretary of the association with effect from November 1, 1920. The - Chief Commissioner was instructed to approach a local gentleman with the offer of the position of treasurer to the association. Ho was also asked to arrange for the employment of a typiste at headquarters. It was decided to hold over consideration of amendment to the existing rules until the next meeting in January. On the motion of the Rev w % H. Orbell, New Zealand was subdivided into thirty scout provinces in nooord--1 n.nce with the scheme of subdivision drawn up by the Chief Commissioner. provided that the scheme be submitted to provincial commissioners and they approve the boundaries suggested. A report from Mr Beagfehole, Com--1 mJssioner for Samoa, was lnid on tho table. The Chief Commissioner was instructed to reply furnishing him with '< all necessary information. It was decided that the headquarters office ehmild be closed from Christmas live to January 3 inclusive. It won also decided that the next meeting of the 5 Executive Committee would be hell on Tuesday, January 11.

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES. The Commissioner for Auckland East reports renewed vitality in his province. He visited Morrineville last week and formed a strong and representative District Committee. He met the Thames District Committee on December 5, and found them very enthusiastic. His province is taking steps to form a finance committee and they hope to report progress in a few days. He will be inspecting the Te Aroha troop on New Year's Day and is taking the Thames troop on trek for ten days. The Commissioner for Hawke's Bay North reports the appointment of the Rev Horace Packe as District Chaplain. Some of hi* troops are going into camp at Christmas, and the Commissioner inquires as to hire of, tents. As the amount required by the Deferice Department for the hire of tents is beyond the means of most troops, tho matter is being taken up by the deputation whioh will wait on Cabinet on Friday. The Provincial Secretary for Wellington North is staying at Rotorua for a short holiday. She sends her congratulations to Scout Gibson on winning tho gold medal for shooting. As she says, the Silverhope Troop is .a very fine one, and the Scoutmistress in charge is a real good Bport. The Wellington North Province is holding a small camp of about one hundred boys at Silverhope on January 18 for ten davs. They propose to hold a scout rallv at Marten for a one-day competition for a banner presented by Lady Wilson, to be competed for annually between the provinces of Wanganui and Wellington North. Mr Johns, the author of " The ScoutmasterV Manual " is to be 0.0. camp, whila Mr M'Farland will be in charge of the commissariat. Scoutmaster Donkin of Wellington is, I understand, to help with the instruction at Silverhope. This camp will be run by the boys themselves to a very great oxtent, especially in regard to cooking, etc. Miss Wilson iR much in favout of the Scoutmaster's Rally suggested and is looking forward to the one to be held at Palmerston North. In concluding she says "J feel so very sorry to think Colonel > Oossgrove passed away before the special council meeting, and before this big forward movement took place. It does seem so hard that.he had all this trouble at the end, and if only he had been spared for the conference he would have been so much encouraged by the splendid feeling of loyalty and ennfidonee in him that these men all had."

A correspondent from _ Palmerstnn North expresses his appreciation of the suggested now province of Wellington "West to comprise the counties of Oroun, Manawntu, Kairnnga. nnd Horowhenua. He expresses the hope that tho new provincial commissioner and his secretary will prove real live wires, and hopes they will be residents of Palmerston North, as ho considers that the establishment of a new province with firm and capable officers will dissipate much of the apparent unrest. '

Tho Commissioner for Wellington South reports that £SO of the £250 recently raised at their scout demonstration in Wellington has been reserved for Wellington headquarters. Thia is a good start, but I would like to see a provincial headquarters office with a paid staff established at an early date, as this would go far towards the smooth working of the movement.

Although the Nelson province is in an embryo stage just now and the Commissioner is a very busy man. I am glad to hear they are settling down to hard work and will make the most of the forward movement initiated at the general meeting of the council. He intends to convene a public meeting on the occasion of tho visit of the Chief Commissioner, and has meantime written to a number of public-spirited and prominent citizens for tho purpose of interesting them in tho_ aims and objects of our movement." He hopes to set the provincial finance scheme launched at an early date. The Nelson, West Coast and Blenheim Scoutmasters would appear to desire a week or ten days' rally. T sympajhise with the Commissioner in his desire to have a visit from the Chief before he visits the other provinces, if only from., the fact that the demands from the binrger provinces on the time of the late Chief

made it impossible for him to visit Nelson and the West Coaa*r-much as he desired to do so.

The Commissioner for Canterbury South reports the issue of commissions to Messrs Cowan and Nicol as bcoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster respectively for tho Fairlie troop. I regret to hear that Timaru has lost hb district commander. Mr Salmon, who is going to England. They have been Fortunate, however, in securing a successor in the person of Mr Stead, and I join with them in expressing tho hope to see scouting in Canterbury take a new lease of life.