FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 2, 2 December 1931, Page 8

FEILDING

BOY SCOUTS’ ASSOCIATION. Commissioner E. Hassall presided at the annual meeting of the Feilding Boy Scouts’ Association last night, only members of the executive committee and officers being present. The annual report of' the association was adopted as follows:—“The Boy Scout movement in Feilding continues to play an importaant part in the development of our growing lads, and thanks are due to the enthusiastic officers of the scout troop and two wolf cub packs for their splendid servicos in this direction. The roll totals 40 scouts and 40 cubs. Scoutmaster E. Street ably controls the scout troop, assisted by as-sistant-Scoutmaster D. Milner and the patrol leaders. Scoutmaster Clark and rover-Scout C. Silcock, of Wellington, have also given valuable instruction during their stay in _ Feilding. The cubs are an enthusiastic body and reflect great credit on their leaders, Cubmistresses E. Geary and E. Young, with their assistants', Cubmistresses E. Guthrie and M. Morphy. The representatives from our scouts who attended the West Coast jamboree at Wanganui acquitted themselves very creditably, tying for first place in the tent competition. At the Feilding A. and P. Show the scout team again won the tug-of-war shield presented by Mr T. Collins, and each member received a medal kindly donated by Mr D. L. Younger. The great event of the year was the visit of the Chief Scout, Lord Baden Powell, and Lady Baden Powell, our troop being represented at Wellington by 36 boys and 3 officers. A patrol attended a social evening given at Marton by the Marton scouts, and during the winter several handball competitions were played against the juvenile lodges. The cubs report having secured many new members to replace those moved up to the scout troop. Miss Nancy Wilson, who is always a willing friend to the Feilding cubs, gave a splendid afternoon’s instruction in games, songs, etc., in the Victoria Park early in the year. Keen competition for most points in cleanliness and neatness of dress has been evinced in both packs. With both scouts and cubs, badgework and useful training have been carefully followed out. During the Hawke’s Bay earthquake time, the scouts lent invaluable aid at the racecourse by acting as meal orderlies and messengers for the old men’s camp. Assistance was also given at the Anzac luncheon, and several other public and private functions. The committee is again indebted to the Manchester Street School Committee for the use of tho quadrangle for weekly parades. The treasurer’s statement shows a small credit balance of £7 10s, no call having been made on the public for funds since 1927. Headquarters' have now advised that, owing to the withdrawal of the Govermnent subsidy and the decrease in other donations, they are compelled to levy a general registration fee of Is per head for all scouts and cubs in the Dominion. The committee- considers this quite reasonable as headquarters render most valuable assistance to all troops and packs. Again the committee, and the scouts, too, are under a debt of gratitude to the Press for their help .and encouragement. It is" desired also to record thanks to the many supporters who have generously helped the movement during the year. West Coast jamboree.—As Feilding has been chosen as the location this year, a large gathering of scouts is expected at the end of December. Mr Hocken has again generously granted the use of a site on his property, and the committee will appreciate assistance from citizens with fruit, vegetables, meat and other food supplies.” In moving the adoption of the report, and also those of the scoutmasters and cubmistresses, Commissioner Hassall said it was obvious that good work- was being done and that the scouts were a credit to both their troop arjd tho town. The Commissioner thought that the .scouts might make some effort to improve their attendance at the parades and asked Scoutmaster Street to take this matter up with them.

The'Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) complimented the scoutmasters and cubmistresses on the reports they had made of the scouts’ progress. Mr Taylor paid a tribute to the value of the scout movement and thought that no better praise could be given its objectives and ideals than to observe the splendid boys who, like Messrs Street and Silcock, scoutmasters, first of all were scouts and later advanced to lead the scouts. The Mayor .hoped that the West Coast jamboree to be held at Feilding early in the New Year would be the same success as its predecessors.

The following committee was elected: The Mayor and Messrs W. E. Carthew, J. S. Tingey, G. J. Fitzpatrick, K. M. Little, W. H. McLean, C. S. Jeffs (olin .treasurer), 0. Sporle, T. K. Hay, T. Collins, G. Kilvington, Rev. F. Copeland and A. C. Buist (hon. secretary) . Referring to the levy of Is per boy in the association being made by the Dominion Council, Commissioner Hassall thought it would . be admitted that this sum was not high. The central body had never made a levy before and now, with the grant from the Government and other avenues of revenue closed to it, it had been found necessary to make the levy. Thanks were accorded all those who had helped the association with donations, etc., and also the Press for the publicity given.

THE JAMBOREE. In connection with the forthcoming West Coast jamboree at Mr H. E. Hocken’s residence at Colyton, the following schedule of instructions was issued:—Scouts to assemble at Feeding railway station on-arrival of their respective trains on December 26, when transport arrangements will be available to convey them to camp. All kits must be clearly labelled to avoid confusion. Scouts travelling by road will give particulars in registration form regarding arrival. Each scout to wear uniform, with stave, and to bring to camp 2 single blankets or equivalent, waterproof sheet, overcoat, E7jamas. 2 towels, soap, boot gear, airbrush, toothbrush, bathing suit, sun hat, change of boots, stockings and underclothing, spare shorts and shirt; also knife, fork, 2 spoons, 2 tin.plates, pannikin, musical instruments and Testament. . All troops must bring complete cooking, and camping gear (including tents, tomahawk, lantern, tea towels). Tent poles will he available in camp Where necessary. Food will be supplied to each unit, being rationed daily by the camp quartermaster, each unit arranging its own cooks. Where small parties from troops attend, these will he joined to arfother troop for camping and instructional purposes. Any number of scouts may attend, large or small. A registration fee of 6s per head must be sent in to the jamboree secretary, with registration form by not later than December 10. This fee is part of the total camp charge, the balance to be paid to the assistant-camp-chief on arrival in camp. To assist those coming from a distance, tho camp Tees have been graduated. The schedule of approximate railway fares applies to parties of six or more scouts not over 16 years of age. Lesser numbers of those over 16 pay the ordinary rates, unless it may bo cheaper for, say, 6

scouts to pay for 6 tickets. All campers to be strictly under camp rules; and the Camp Chief has full control of the camp. All campers should pass a doctor before registering for camp. Suitable entertainments and competitions will be t arranged in camp. Correspondence to campers is to be addressed: Scout Camp, “Grassmere,” Private 'Bag, Feilding. The total camp fees and approximate railway fares' for scouts from the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts were shown as follow:—Hunterville, camp foe, 9s, train fare to Feilding 2s lOd; Marton. 10s and Is 8d; Greatford, 10s and Is 3d; Feilding, camp fee only, 10s; Pahiatua, 9s and 3s 3d; Dannevirke, 9s and 3s lOd; Woodville, 9s and 2s 7d; Ashhurst 10s and Is lid; Palmerston North 10s and Is Id; Foxton, 9s and 3s; Shannon, 9s and 2s 7d; Levin, 9s and 3s sd; Otaki, 9s and 4s 4d. Speaking to the report, the Commissioner said that the matter of the organisation of the jamboree had been given great thought and had about reached finality. The speaker, however, particularly wished it known that the jamboree committee was to a large extent relying on the people of the town and district for donations of fruit, vegetables, meat, etc. There would be a lot of boys to cater for and, with tho small charge being made for camp attendance, it was hoped that these commodities would be forthcoming. Mr.Buist also stated that benzine tins and firewood would be other requirements that would bo in strong demand.